A Comparative Study of Maternal Burnout in Autism and Hearing Impairment Varghese Reuben Thomas1, Venkatesan S.2 1Speech Language Pathologist- Grade I, Department of Clinical Services, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Manasagangotri, Mysore-570006, India; Email: reuben_aslp@yahoo.com 2Professor, Clinical Psychology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Manasagangotri, Mysore-570006, India; Email: psyconindia@gmail.com Online published on 22 October, 2013. Abstract Maternal burnout is a combination of fatigue, shame, guilt, anger, frustration and ailments from sacrificing personal needs and desires for the sake of children. The present study uses a cross sectional two-group random survey design to investigate maternal burnout independently as well as comparatively between autism vis-à-vis hearing impairment and in relation to severity of their conditions. Based on a comprehensive review of available scales for measurement of ‘burnout’, and also by accounting for the local cultural factors, a needbased 35-item individually administered paper–pencil ‘Maternal Burnout Scale’ (MB-35) was exclusively developed for the purpose of this study and administered on a sample of 60 mothers covering equally children with autism and those with hearing impairment. Results of the study indicate that although maternal burnout appears to be pervasive phenomena across both the clinical groups, the nature, characteristics and content of the felt experience vary between them. Evidently, autism entails both ‘physical’ and ‘psychological’ forms of maternal burnout, whereas hearing impairment appears to provoke overly ‘psychological’ symptoms of maternal burnout. Furthermore, evidence shows that maternal burnout is like a type of nurture-overload; wherein periodic rest, respite, recuperation, relaxation and recreation, combined with support services and counselling is discussed as essential to cut, combat or cope with it. Top Keywords Maternal, Burnout, Autism, Hearing, Impairment. Top |