Rh Factor and Deafness: The Problem, Its Psychological, Physical, and Educational Manifestations

Abstract

Children with severe hearing impairments due to complications of Rh factor were studied relative to their psychological adjustment, educational achievement, prevalence and nature of multiple handicaps, level of intelligence, audiometric responses, and psychodiagnostic evidence of brain damage. Among the major findings were that over 70 percent of these youth are multiply handicapped, the mean IQ was 94, education achievement of those eligible for school was one half that of the normally hearing, ability in written language was appreciably below that of most deaf children, and psychodiagnostic measures reflected a high prevalence of central nervous system dysfunction. Audiometric and psychological findings are also discussed.