Haptic Memory (touch: texture) and Visual Memory in Deaf Adolescents

Abstract

The present investigation was aimed at studying haptic and visual memory in deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) and normal hearing (NH) adolescents. This study included total 60 participants (30 DHH and 30 NH) of age ranging from 15 to 18 years (M =16 years). An experiment was conducted to examine haptic memory on deaf adolescent participants in which four basic textures, soft (cotton), semi hard (rubber), hard (plastic) and liquid (water), were used. Visual retention subtest of PGI memory scale, developed by Pershad and Wig, was administered to assess visual memory. In texture experiment, reaction time (R.T) for identifying the texture was recorded and in visual retention test, correct scores were noted down. Data collection was carried out individually. Data were analysed by using t-test. In texture identification experiment, results revealed significant difference for all textures, soft (cotton) (t =2.15, p<0.05), semi hard (rubber) (t =4.46, p<0.01), hard (plastic) (t =3.89, p<0.01) and liquid (water) (t =3.83, p<0.01). Deaf adolescents required less reaction time than hearing adolescents for identifying different textures. In case of visual memory, results revealed no significant difference between deaf and hearing adolescents. Investigation concluded that haptic memory is better in DHH adolescents as compared to NH adolescents, while there is no difference in visual memory between DHH and NH adolescents.