Towards The Hearing Persons. A Case Study In PCEA St. Andrews Church, Nairobi County.

Abstract

The main purpose of this research was to study the attitude of the hearing impaired towards those who can hear. The study comprised of the members of the hearingimpaired congregation of PCEA St Andrews church in Nairobi County. The objective of this study was to identify the factors that influence how the hearingimpaired people view the hearing and, to examine the factors that influence the attitude of the hearing impaired towards the hearing. The study was also to establish how the attitude of the hearing-impaired persons towards the hearing people shapes their behavior. The methodology used was a survey research design where both quantitative and qualitative data was collected and analyzed. This was done by administering a questionnaire to each of the 66 hearing impaired respondents. Qualitative data was by conducting in-depth interviews to four purposively selected key informants. From the findings, all of the respondents indicated to know deafness as a culture and they fully identified with the culture. The respondents also gave a general view of what makes them form certain attitudes towards the hearing persons. There was an indication that hearing people do not take time to understand their way of life; hence, they would rather operate their lives in Isolation. Some also felt the hearing persons consider them disabled and associate deafness with certain myths. This study showed the need for integration, mainstreaming and inclusion of the Hearing impaired communities in the dialogue about their culture. This would ensure they are provided with the ability to have authentic input in studies about them. This would provide the possibility of new wealth of knowledge with benefits going to the current and future hearing impaired persons, religious bodies, schools, and policymakers involved in the deaf culture.