ABSTRACT
The directly expressed views of young children are often missing from research outcomes. This may be because researchers perceive younger children as lacking the competence to express and analyse their learning environments and to identify the factors which support or hinder them. Alternatively, existing methodologies do not offer the children the means to provide their experience or are seen as time-consuming and potentially unproductive. Ethical research boards are perhaps hesitant to approve unproven research methods with a group of participants labelled as ‘vulnerable’.
This chapter explores the development of a framework for children (aged 3–7 years) to assess their understanding of speech in noise. The children had a diagnosis of glue ear, which occurs in about 80% of children under the age of 7 years, often resulting in temporary hearing loss. Data was generated by the children interpreting how different locations impacted their ability to understand speech in noise.
The philosophical underpinning is that children are more aware of their circumstances than adults would believe. By developing a methodology through which children control their participation in research, many of the concerns of ERBs regarding exploitation of children as participants can be challenged and overcome.
