TEACHERS CHALLENGES IN MODIFICATION OF EBD IN LEARNERS WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN METROPOLITAN REGION IN KENYA

Elizabeth Nelima Simiyu, Beatrice A. Bunyasi, George W. Mathenge

Abstract


Learners with hearing impairment who also have Emotional and Behavioural Disorders (EBD) suffer additional problems that greatly impact their academic achievement, particularly in inclusive and metropolitan schools in Kenya. Teachers play an important role in altering these behaviours; nevertheless, they face a number of challenges that restrict their effectiveness. This study looked into the difficulties teachers experience while addressing emotional and behavioural issues in students with hearing impairments in order to improve academic performance in Kenyan urban areas. The study followed a descriptive survey approach and focused on instructors working in special schools and inclusive units in urban locations. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data, which were then examined qualitatively and quantitatively. According to the findings, teachers face significant problems such as insufficient training in special needs education, low competency in Kenyan Sign Language, insufficient teaching and learning tools, overcrowded classrooms, and negative or mixed attitudes toward students with dual needs. Furthermore, communication hurdles and a lack of parental and institutional support exacerbate behaviour adjustment efforts.

Keywords


learners, hearing impairment, emotional and behavioural disorders, teacher challenges

Full Text:

PDF

References


Alexaki, P.-S., Antonopoulou, H., Gkintoni, E., Adamopoulos, N., & Halkiopoulos, C. (2025). Psychological Dimensions of Professional Burnout in Special Education: A Cross-Sectional Behavioral Data Analysis of Emotional Exhaustion, Personal Achievement, and Depersonalization. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(9), 1420. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091420

Borghi, B. (2021). History, civic education and heritage education: the challenges of teachers in a democratic society. In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference of the Journal Scuola Democratica “Reinventing Education”, Vol. 1, Citizenship, Work and The Global Age (pp. 771-782). Associazione “Per Scuola Democratica”. Retrieved from https://cris.unibo.it/handle/11585/875318

Chemaiyo, C., Murugami, M., & Otube, N. (2024). Instructional Strategies for Learners with EBD in Nandi Central, Kenya. European Journal of Special Education Research, 11(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v11i1.5810

Ernest, O. A. L. (2022). Academic Implications of Defiant Behavior Disorder on Performance of Learners with Hearing Impairment in Selected Special Schools, Kilifi County, Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, Kenyatta University). Retrieved from https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/server/api/core/bitstreams/3a40ff4a-2cad-478e-8828-d67c14518ea1/content

Farid, A., Ishtiaq, M., & Hussain, M. S. (2020). A review of effective reading strategies to teach text comprehension to adult English language learners. Global Language Review, 5(3), 77-88. https://doi.org/10.31703/glr.2020(V-III).09

Maes, J. H., Scheper, A. R., Hermans, D., & Vissers, C. T. (2025). Incidental learning and social‐communicative abilities in children with developmental language disorder: Further evaluating the implicit learning deficit hypothesis. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 60(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.70017

Mboya, H.A.O., Odongo, B.C., & Omoke, C. M. (2016). Identifying and teaching students with emotional and behavioral issues in inclusive elementary schools in Kenya. Retrieved from https://ir.jooust.ac.ke/items/e986e3d5-beda-4e96-ba9b-8379be9f1432

Miles, C. P. (2019). Disability, stigma and education in developing countries. Birmingham: University of Birmingham, School of Education.

Mogale, M. L. (2025). Differentiated instruction as a strategy to support progressed learners within inclusive classrooms. In Global Practices in Inclusive Education Curriculum and Policy (pp. 343-364). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-4058-5.ch014

Mugo, J. M. (2017). Inclusive education in Kenya: Policy, practice and teacher preparedness. Nairobi: Kenyatta University, Department of Special Needs Education.

Murithi S., Mwirichia S., & Gichohi P. M. (2022). Use of listening assistive technologies and academic success in students with hearing impairments. Meru: Kenya Methodist University. https://doi.org/10.71274/ijpp.v10i2.239

Murunga, E. Y. (2017). Challenges in teaching and learning for learners with hearing impairment in integrated programs in Nairobi County, Kenya. Kenyatta University. Retrieved from https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/items/035969a9-8cf2-4651-8624-5b63a4dc400b

Mutahi, K. E., Tarsilla, K., & Maku, G. P. (2024). Influence of Institutional Capacity on the Competitiveness of TVET Institutions in Nyeri County. International Journal of Professional Practice 12(2). https://doi.org/10.71274/ijpp.v12i2.417

Odhiambo, L. A., Ouko, O. H. M., & Onchari, I. B. (2024). Instructional techniques and classroom accommodations in Homa Bay, Kenya.

Schuster, J., & Kolleck, N. (2024). Between capacity development and contestation: a systematic review of the involvement of inter-and non-governmental actors in inclusive education. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 28(8), 1450-1473. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2021.1994033

Sharma, K., & Singh, S. K. (2024). Educational Issues and Challenges: A Teacher's Perspective. Casa Editorial.

Shurr, J., Minuk, A., Östlund, D., & Schrei, T. (2025). Global Issues and Perspectives in Education for Students with Intellectual Disability. In Handbook for Educating Students with Disabilities: Implications and Strategies (pp. 393-410). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-031-57286-9_19-1

Wawire, T. M. (2023). KSL mastery and academic success in Western Kenya. Retrieved from https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/12345789/2775?show=full

Zickafoose, A., Ilesanmi, O., Diaz-Manrique, M., Adeyemi, A. E., Walumbe, B., Strong, R., Wingenbach, G., Rodriguez, M. T., & Dooley, K. (2024). Barriers and challenges affecting quality education (Sustainable Development Goal# 4) in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. Sustainability, 16(7), 2657. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072657




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v12i5.6891

Copyright © 2015 - 2026. European Journal of Special Education Research (ISSN 2501 - 2428) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing GroupAll rights reserved.

This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library (Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei). All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms.

All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).