The Knowledge Hearing Impairment Children Have About Common Public Signs

Jamal  Ahmad; Eman  Al‑Zboon

doi:10.36941/jesr-2023-0042

Authors

Jamal Ahmad Associate Professor, Department of Education, University of Sharjah, P. O.Box 27272 Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Associate Professor, Department of Child Education, Queen Rania Faculty for Childhood, The Hashemite University, P.O Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan
Eman Al‑Zboon Associate Professor, Department of Special Education, Queen Rania Faculty for Childhood, The Hashemite University, P.O Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2023-0042

Keywords:

Hearing impairment children, environmental print, signs & symbols

Abstract

This study aimed to examine sign recognition in children with hearing impairment ages 6 - 9 years old from Al-Zarqa city in Jordan. Public signs were shown to the children and they were asked to say what the sign represented. Results were that children have difficulty recognizing a sign’s meaning, as reflected in their answers. Results also showed that children can identify iconic signs like a mosque the most, and the index of a skull for danger or symbol such as the letter H to indicate a hospital the least. For signs they did not correctly identify, they viewed the sign as a picture, not a sign that has meaning. The study shows hearing impaired children’s familiarity with signs in public spaces.

Received: 15 November 2022 / Accepted: 16 February 2023 / Published: 5 March 2023