Effect of Behavior Modification Training on Decreasing Oppositional Behavior and Enhancing Behavioral Performance of Deaf Children

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of mother's training behavior modification methods, on reducing oppositional behavior and enhancing behavioral performance of their 8-10 year old children with hearing impairment.

The research design employed was quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test and control groups. To do so, 30 mothers of children with hearing impairment were selected using available sampling. The participants were divided into two experimental and control groups after being matched. The research tools included CSI-4 and behavioral performance questionnaires. The training behavior modification methods were performed in nine 90-minute sessions in the experimental group. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance in SPSS, version16.

The results of covariance analysis showed effectiveness of behavior modification training on reducing oppositional behavior scores in children of mothers in the experimental group compared with those of the control group (F= 28/79, P=0/001). The results also showed enhancement of behavioral performance in experimental group (F= 5/85, P=0/05).

Generally, the findings demonstrated that training behavior modification methods improve behavioral problems in deaf children and prevention of behavioral problems in family environment; thus, using parents training, symptoms of behavioral problems in these children can be managed.