Efficacy of Intervention Learning Materials in Enhancing English Comprehension among Students with Hearing Impairment in Inclusive Tanzanian Secondary Schools | Chapter 11 | Language, Literature and Education: Research Updates Vol. 3

This study intends to provide insights into the importance of customized educational interventions materials derived from research and their potentials to bridge the comprehension gap for students with hearing impairments embarking on intervention research to establish the efficacy of the developed intervention learning materials in improving language comprehension ability among students with hearing impairment in inclusive classrooms in secondary schools in Tanzania. The study adopted a developmental design using a pre-test, post-test quasi-experimental mixed approach in which the experimental group was subjected to intervention using designed intervention materials while the control group used a traditional approach in learning comprehension. The study employed questionnaires, interviews, and documentary review as methods of data collection. The quantitative evaluation employed paired sample t-test and independent t-test to compare scores within the group and between the experimental and control groups. The qualitative evaluation used a phenomenographic approach. The findings revealed that the post-test mean scores of the students in the experimental group improved significantly in comparison with the control group. In conclusion, the designed ILMs improved the English language comprehension ability of the targeted students. Sign language interpretation enabled students with HI to understand what was taught in the classroom. Consequently, students with HI were able to contribute to group work and classroom discussion.

 

Author (s) Details

 

Eugen Mtemi Philip
Department of Special Needs Education, Archbishop Mihayo University College of Tabora (AMUCTA), Tanzania.

 

Salvius Kumburu
Department of Psychology, Ruaha Catholic University (RUCU), Tanzania.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/lleru/v3/4771

Examining Mental Fatigue in Auditory Rehabilitation: Impact of Hearing Loss and Tinnitus | Chapter 2 | Medical Research and Its Applications Vol. 2

 

Background: Tinnitus, hearing loss and mental fatigue are multidimensional. Tinnitus may lead to a reduced health-related QoL affecting domains such as physical functioning, vitality and mental health.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to identify and determine the degree of mental fatigue in patients with hearing loss and/or tinnitus participating in audiological rehabilitation, and to examine the self-reported Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS) in this patient group.

Methods: Patients undergoing audiological rehabilitation at the Department of Audiology and Neurotology, Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden, 2011-2017, who completed a self-reported MFS questionnaire were investigated. Data on 76 consecutive patients were analysed in this pilot study. Patients were also assessed with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Data from medical records, MFS and THI were analysed with e.g. t-tests, chi-square tests, and correlation analysis. Some potential limitations are that the present study had no control group, and used retrospective data collected during clinical visits.

Results: The study population had an age range of 38-65 years, and most had normal hearing (37%) or mild-to-moderate hearing loss (46%). Only 17% had severe-to-profound hearing loss. A total of 56.5% had tinnitus, of whom 39.5% scored ≥57 on the THI, indicating severe tinnitus, whereas 43.5% reported no tinnitus. The MFS scores, ranged 13-42.5 points, were divided into three severity levels for analysis: 10.5-15 (mild), 15.5-20 (moderate) and ≥20.5 (severe symptoms). In total, 67% of the patients had severe MFS scores ≥20.5. Importantly, most of the participants (90%) with a THI score ≥57 belonged to that group. There were 17 patients with normal hearing with MFS scores ≥20.5. MFS scores ≥30 and THI scores 78-100 were found in 11 patients. A significant positive correlation between MFS and severe tinnitus was found.

Conclusions: The study reveals that severe mental fatigue is more common in patients with severe tinnitus than sole hearing loss.

 

Author(s)details:-

 

Satu Turunen-Taheri
Department of CLINTEC, Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden and Department of Audiology and Neurotology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-118 95 Stockholm, Sweden and Department of CLINTEC, Division of Audiology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 85 Huddinge, Sweden.

 

Per-Inge Carlsson
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Central Hospital, Karlstad, Sweden and Faculty of Medicine and Health, Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.

 

Elisabeth Ternevall
Department of Audiology and Neurotology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-118 95 Stockholm, Sweden.

 

Sten Hellström
Department of CLINTEC, Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden and Department of Audiology and Neurotology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-118 95 Stockholm, Sweden.

 

Please See the book here :-  https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mria/v2/3544G