Traumatic Events Common among Deaf Adolescents in Kenyan Schools for the Deaf

Anne Mwiti, Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology; Lillian Wahome, Ed.D., Daystar University; Charity Waithima, Ph.D., United States International University; & Alice Munene, Psy.D., Daystar University

Abstract

The study aimed to identify traumatic events common with deaf adolescents in Kenya schools for the Deaf. A quasi-experimental research design was used. The study population comprised of 188 deaf adolescents aged 14-19 years in class 5 – 7 and form 1 – 3 in Machakos and Kambui Schools for the Deaf. While Childhood PTSD Symptoms Scale (CPSS) Life Events screened for traumatic events, a Socio-Demographic Questionnaire was used for socio-demographic characteristics as well as traumatic events relating to the hearing disability. Cognitive-behavioral intervention for trauma in schools (CBITS) was conducted with the experimental group. The data collected was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20. The results revealed that common traumatic events included: witnessing someone being slapped, punched or hit (69.7%), having been slapped, punched or hit (67.6% ), witness someone sick or injured and rushed to hospital (66.0%), witness someone being beaten up (63.8%), serious sickness of a relative or close friend (59.0%), having been slapped, punched or hit (57.4%), witnessed horrific road accidents (46.8%), and attack by an animal like a dog (45.2%) as well as name calling (58.5%), neglect (41.5%) and discrimination (44.7%).

Keywords: Deaf adolescents, traumatic events