APPLICATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN OYO STATE

Abstract

This study examined the application of information and communication technology (ICT) for preschool children with hearing impairment in Oyo State. The study adopted a survey type of descriptive research design. The study population comprised all the public preschools teachers teaching hearing impairment children in Oyo State. One hundred and fifty (150) preschools teachers were randomly selected as respondents for the study from the three senatorial districts of Oyo State. The instrument was titled Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Questionnaire for Preschool Teachers (ICTQPT). Data were analyzed using means and percentages. The findings of this study revealed that ICT tools are available for utilization in preschool for children with hearing impairment. our study showed that preschool-aged children with hearing impairments have available ICT tools for teaching and learning. The study also showed that preschoolers with hearing impairment are taught and learned using ICT technologies effectively. According to the study's findings, frequent power outages, high ICT facility costs, a lack of staff at preschools, and a lack of ICT integration into curricula are among the challenges facing the application of ICT for efficient teaching and learning of preschool children with hearing impairment.  This study therefore recommends that there should be more provisions of ICT tools for teaching preschool children with hearing impairment and preschools teachers should be encouraged to use all ICT tools effectively for teaching children with hearing impairment preschools.