Parents’ experiences of finding out their child has SEN : an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Okai, Fiona 2015. Parents’ experiences of finding out their child has SEN : an interpretative phenomenological analysis. DEdPsy Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

There has been much research into support required by parents when finding out that their child has a medical need resulting in severe disability (Baird, McConachie, & Scrutton, 2000; Billson & Tyrrell, 2003; Fallowfield, 1993; Graungaard & Skov, 2007; Hasnat & Graves, 2000). There has been less research regarding the support required by parents in school when finding out that their child has a less severe difficulty (such as moderate global developmental delay or moderate learning difficulty). Parents may experience a grief reaction upon diagnosis of their child's condition which is similar to a bereavement (Bowes, Lowes, Warner, & Gregory, 2009; Bruce & Schultz, 2001; Lowes & Lyne, 2000). It is important to know whether parents can have a similar reaction when they discover that their child may have learning difficulties. A review of available literature has failed to identify adequate resources and guidelines specific to working with non-finite (on-going) loss (Collings, 2008). This research aims to investigate how parents experience the process of finding out that their child has learning difficulties. It considers ways in which parents experience school support. This study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Appreciative Inquiry through semi-structured interviews with four parents of children with learning difficulties who were aged 5-7 years old. Analysis indicated three superordinate themes of: loss, social comparison and sense of belonging. Limitations and implications for future research are considered.

Item Type:	Thesis (DEdPsy)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Parents, Children, SEN, Learning difficulty, Learning disability, Interpretative phenomenological analysis, Loss, Sense of belonging, Social comparison
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	13 Apr 2022 15:41
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/80116

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