Contact with Persons with Hearing Impairments as a Correlate of Children's and Adults' Attitudes towards These Persons

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between children's and adults' contact with persons with hearing impairments and their attitudes towards these persons. The sample included children aged 10 (N = 100) and their parents (N = 192). We compared the attitudes of subjects who live near a residential school for deaf pupils and because of that are in frequent contact with them, with the attitudes of subjects who do not live near an institution for deaf pupils. The results show that subjects who have more contact with hearing impaired persons have more tolerant attitudes towards them. The results are in line with the findings of previous studies on this issue.