Psychological Distress, Burden and Adjustment among Parents having Deaf and Mute Children

Background: Parents of deaf and mute children face unique emotional and social challenges that significantly impact their psychological distress and adjustment often arises from difficulties in communication with their child, social isolation, and concerns about the child’s future, all of which can burden parents. Aim: This study aimed to assess psychological distress, burden and adjustment of parents having deaf and mute children. Design: Adescriptive research design was used in this study. Setting: The study was was conducted at El-Aml schools for deaf and mute in El-Fayoum City, Egypt. Sample: A purposive sample of 92 parents having deaf and mute children. Tools: Four tools were included in this study.; tool I: structured interview questionnaire or structured interview for socio-demographic data & medical history of deaf and mute children and their parents. tool II: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale to assess psychological distress, tool III: Burden interview questionnaire to assess burden, tool IV: Adjustment scale to assess adjustment. Results: The present study showed that, there was more than two fifths of parents have moderate levels of psychological distress ,more than two fifth of parents have moderate level of burden, more than half of parents have moderate level of adjustment Conclusion: Based on the results concluded that, more than two fifth of parents have moderate levels of psychological distress, Also more than two fifths moderate level of burden and more than half of parents have moderate level of adjustment , There was a highly statistically significant positive correlation between total psychological distress and total burden and a highly statistically negative correlation between total psychological distress and total adjustment. Recommendation: Psycho-educational program for parents of deaf and mute children on enhancing psychological distress, burden and adjustment.