An examination of home reading practices of parents of young children with a hearing loss

Abstract

Early storybook reading (ESR) offers a promising opportunity for children to learn language and social communication skills. This preliminary investigation aimed to extend knowledge of ESR with young children with a hearing loss (HL). Twelve parents with young children (birth to 3 years old) with a HL completed a questionnaire examining parents’ perceptions towards ESR and their home reading practices. Ten parents (n = 12) reported engaging in frequent ESR with their children and all of the families provided their children with access to books at home. Parents reported limited visits to the library/ bookstore. Difficulties with selecting ageappropriate books and using seating environments known to facilitate parent–child interactions were reported. These preliminary findings indicate that parents with young children with a HL engage in frequent ESR, although may benefit from further education on the importance of ESR, book selection, and using seating environments that support parent–child interactions.