Influence of hearing loss on sibling relationships: Perspectives of the normal hearing sibling.
Suvishka Barath, Senamile N Hlongwane, Marylene Madlala and 2 others
PMID 37916688WHAT IT FOUND
Normal-hearing siblings described grief and communication breakdowns but also deeper bonds over time.
Involving them in aural rehabilitation and using shared communication modes, like sign language, helped them understand their sibling's needs and maintain the relationship despite social challenges.
Key findings
01Initial reactions to the diagnosis included sadness, hopelessness, and disappointment, often described as a grieving process for the loss of expectations for the sibling.
02Communication barriers frequently caused breakdowns, particularly when siblings did not share a similar mode of communication such as sign language or total communication.
03Involvement in aural rehabilitation sessions increased knowledge and improved relationships, whereas lack of information or access led to distance or assumptions that nothing was wrong.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (nine participants) and recruited via snowball sampling, which may introduce bias and limits generalizability. The study was conducted in South Africa, and findings may not be directly transferable to other cultural or socioeconomic contexts. Data collection was conducted online, which may have affected the depth of interaction or been limited by technology access. The cross-sectional nature of the interviews captures perspectives at a single point in time, though participants reflected on changes over time.
Declared interests
The authors declared no financial or personal relationships that could have influenced the work. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that all normal-hearing siblings experience negative outcomes or require intervention. The study found that many siblings developed closer bonds and positive personal growth over time, and that the quality of the relationship was heavily influenced by communication mode and inclusion in rehabilitation rather than the hearing loss itself.