The object and aim of the undertaken surveys was to assess the modifying impact of a child’s language development (independent variable) on selected areas of their mother’s functioning-the appearance of symptoms of depression, and concentration on the child’s disability (dependent variable). Surveys in a group of the same 30 dyads (mother-child) connected with the Association of Family and Friends of Children with Hearing Impairment in Krosno were conducted in 2007 and repeated after 9 years. Analysis of the test data (n=60) confirmed the hypothesis that the appearance of symptoms of depression in mothers is less frequent and a mother’s perception of a child’s hearing impairment as burdensome decreases alongside the development of a child’s language competence. The article is critical of the results of surveys conducted by other researchers. The authors also analyse other factors, including the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Programme, place of residence, quality of specialist treatment and therapy, and the passage of time, which may influence change in the functioning of mothers of children with hearing impairment.

The results of our own research indicate the heterogeneity of hearing children of deaf parents (koda) in the development of language in context of special educational needs. Koda acquire language and speech in an unusual communication environment. The aim of the research is to analyse the linguistic development of koda in terms of active and passive vocabulary, comprehension and use of grammatical forms, and comprehension of a longer text. The results of children obtained in the normalised Linguistic Development Test were analysed. Koda may have difficulty in mastering speech in its various planes and aspects, develop language competences and skills discordantly.