Catherine Walker

Doctoral Researcher

Current Status

First year

Research Topic

Do young people with mild / moderate hearing loss have the social and emotional skills to enable them to lead confident and independent lives beyond school?

Research Summary

The research aims to investigate what the social and emotional needs of children and young people with mild / moderate hearing loss are. The research proposes to use a mixed methods approach to investigate this phenomenon. Initially it will evaluate the needs using quantitative data and then qualitative research methods will be used to gather personal reflections and data relating to the research questions. Positive mental Health and wellbeing has become ‘buzz words’ within education and specific support has been put in to place to support children and young people and those witha severe / profound hearing loss. The research will consider if specific awareness needs to be considered for those with a mild / moderate hearing loss to ensure they possess the appropriate social and emotional skills to become confident and independent adults when they leave school / fulltime education.

Research interests 

  • Social and emotional needs of deaf children.
  • Children and Young people with a mild / moderate hearing loss.
  • Language and communication.
  • Inclusion of children and young people with SEN and disabilities in mainstream schools.
  • Pupil Voice.
  • Early identification and early intervention of support services/ resources 

Research Supervisors

Dr. Elizabeth Hodges

Dr. Emmanouela Terlektsi

Source of Funding

College of Social Sciences School of Education Scholarship

Membership of research andprofessional organisations

BATOD

Publications and Conference Presentations

Article published in the BATOD magazine (June 2017) – social and emotional needs of military children with a hearing loss.

BATOD Conference presentation (Promoting Social and Emotional Skills and Mental Health of Deaf Children) – March 2017

Contact Details

Email: cxw390@bham.ac.uk