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Patton College alumnus studies attitudes toward hearing aids in Saudi Arabia

Alodail surveyed 130 students for his study.

ATHENS, Ohio (Feb. 18, 2011) - Abdullah Alodail is using his education from OHIO’s Patton College to benefit his home country of Saudi Arabia.

Alodail, who obtained his master’s degree in Special Education from The Patton College, is currently conducting research for his dissertation, “Student Attitudes Toward Wearing Hearing Aids in Saudi Arabia.” Alodail explained that there can be a stigma attached to wearing hearing aids in Saudi Arabia, so some students elect not to, which impairs their learning.

“In talking to the teachers, I found that students who wear hearing aids do better in school and communicate with other students better,” Alodail said.

Some students are so against hearing aids that they would rather learn sign language, but Alodail does not agree with this logic, believing that learning sign language further isolates the students from the rest of society.

After surveying more than 130 students, Alodail identified five predictors that impact a student’s decision on whether or not to utilize a hearing aid: perceived effectiveness, perceived social life, perceived denial, perceived adaptation and gender. By studying each predictor, Alodail will be able to suggest ways to erase the stigma attached to each one.

Alodail hopes to create a cultural shift where teachers and parents encourage the use of hearing aids. For the next phase of his study, Alodail plans to involve parents, surveying their attitudes about children who wear hearing aids.

“Parents know their children best,” Alodail said. “It will be helpful to know (the parent’s) attitudes, to see what factor they are in the decision to use a hearing aid.”

Alodail’s work caught the attention of the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia, which had never seen this type of study. The Ministry’s support has been instrumental in allowing Alodail to conduct research, as well as offering to provide hearing aids to students in need.

Alodail has plenty of support in the United States too. Dr. Teresa Franklin, who teaches in the Instructional Technology program at The Patton College, encouraged Alodail to pursue this topic, noting his interest in both special education and technology.

“I always encourage international students to do research regarding their home countries, because then they can benefit their homelands,” said Franklin, who is Alodail’s adviser.

Alodail was quick to mention how supportive The Patton College has been. He was also very grateful to the Saudi students for their participation in the study and to the Ministry of Education for its support.

“(The students) were very helpful to me,” Alodail said. “Now, I’m just trying to return the favor.”

Story by R. Devin Hughes; Photo by Abdullah Alodail