High and appropriate expectations for deaf and hard of hearing children: the role of assessment

High expectations mean more than simply uttering “feel good” intentions and “You can do it!” mantras. They must be supported byappropriate challenges and ongoing assessment. The expectations of parents and professionals influence how children perceive their own abilities, achieve academically, and form relationships later in life (Powers, 2011; Davis-Kean, 2005; Doren, Gau, & Lindstrom, 2012; Wagner, Newman, Camento, Levine, &Marder, 2007). In addition to parental involvement, parental expectations regarding their children’s education have been shown to be one of the most significant predictors of success in deaf and hard of hearing children and adolescents (Doran et al., 2012). When parents have high expectations, children are more likely to achieve more, to have higher levels of self-esteem, and to thrive.