From sensory isolation to welcome the world: play therapy treatment in a child with deafness

Abstract

Play is the natural way of communication of children. Through play, the child expresses his anxieties and resolves his conflicts. Play therapy is used to promote the expression and management of internal conflicts and to understand children’s emotions.
Case report: We present the case of an 10-year-old boy diagnosed with CHARGE syndrome. He is deaf. His ability to communicate is markedly impaired and it is difficult to establish an effective communication channel with him. Our intervention focused on supporting development of ego and emotional recognition. To achieve this goal we started a non-directive play therapy.
Conclusion: Play therapy bridges the gap between concrete experiences and abstract thought and emotional experiences. Working with play therapy has helped this child understand and communicate his emotions more effectively. We believe this constitutes an effective technique that helps deaf children experiment and identify emotions.