An Assessment of Influence of Defiant Behavior Disorder on Poor Performance among Learners with Hearing Impairment in Kilifi County, Kenya

The purpose of this was to establish how defiant behavior disorder leads to poor performance among learners with hearing impairment in Kilifi County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey design since the design includes asking a large group of people about a specific issue. The target population was 461 respondents from the four schools. Purposive sampling was used to select special schools and their principals in Kilifi County. Purposive sampling was used to select all teachers while stratified random sampling was used in selecting learners for the study with strata based on classes from class one to class eight. The research instruments used were questionnaires, interview and observation schedules. Piloting was done at Kakuyuni School for the Hearing Impaired after which further improvements of the research instruments was done. Mixed data analysis methods were employed whereby qualitative data was analyzed by use of thematic method while quantitative data will was analyzed by use of simple descriptive statistics such as measures of central tendency, frequency distribution tables, mean, mode, median and measures of dispersion i.e. variance and standard deviation. The study established that high scores of defiant behaviour deteriorated the level of participation in classroom, class attendance and accomplishment of assignments, performance and reading skills among learners with HI. The learners displayed little to no knowledge and retention of academic skills in the various levels of academic they were in. The study concluded that hearing impaired learners with defiant behavior have below average to poor academic achievement levels. The learners displayed little to no knowledge and retention of academic skills in the various levels of academic they were in. It is recommended that Board of Management, school administration and parents should take part in identification, assessment and management of hearing impaired learners with defiant behaviour.