Ruthuku, June Wanjiku2019-09-262019-09-262013-08https://repository.daystar.ac.ke/handle/123456789/2996Deafness is a condition that affects 20 million children worldwide, 80% of whom live in the developing countries. With this condition comes a challenge for the deaf child in terms of language and communication. Without communication and language skills, inclusion in the family, education, society; and in the long run employment might be impossible. This will definitely affect the attachment process. The researcher recognized this aspect and purposed to study “The effect of deafness on attachment among children in selected deaf centres in Nairobi County”. The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of deafness on attachment among deaf children aged between 12 and 20 years. The objectives of the study included: 1) To find out whether deafness affects attachment in deaf children, 2) To establish the challenges that hearing caregivers experience in their interaction with their deaf children. The study employed descriptive research. A sample population of 36 deaf children aged between 12 and 20 years was used. The participants were derived from public schools. The schools included: Joseph Kang’ethe Primary, Race-course Primary, Aga Khan Primary and Giovanni e Silva school in Nairobi County. The major sampling technique used was purposive sampling. The researcher used both questionnaires and focus group discussion questions for data collection. Data analysis was done through descriptive techniques with the help of Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS, Version 17.0) and qualitative data analysis methods. Data was presented and displayed graphically using tables, graphs and charts. The findings indicated that a large percentage of the caregivers [mothers (77.1%) and fathers (94.4%)] do not know sign language. The findings also indicated that 52.9% of the deaf children do not bother telling their caregivers about their problems. As a result, attachment is affected. The researcher recommends sign language training for the caregivers.enDeafnessCommunicationChild attachmentDeaf CentresThesis