Resilience of Muslim Families in the Dynamics of Caring for Children with Special Needs: A Case Study of a 17-Year-Old Girl

Abstract

Hearing impairment in Indonesian adolescents poses significant developmental challenges, including socio-emotional difficulties and risks of cognitive delay, which are exacerbated by limited early interventions and cultural stigma. This qualitative single-case study examines the lived experiences of Suci Cahaya, a 17-year-old female high school student with hearing impairment, with a specific focus on family parenting dynamics, socio-emotional challenges, and religious coping strategies within an Islamic context. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews, and credibility was strengthened through triangulation of information across sources and perspectives. The findings show a marked shift from Suci’s outgoing childhood to adolescent introversion, precipitated by bullying and communication barriers, yet concurrently buffered by collaborative parenting—her mother’s patient, repetitive guidance and her father’s active advocacy—alongside supportive community engagement. Religious values, including sincerity, sabar (patience), and viewing disability as amanah (divine trust), fortified family resilience, reframed caregiving as spiritual worship, and helped reduce psychological distress. The study concludes that culturally embedded, faith-informed parenting and community support can foster adaptive coping and resilience among adolescents with hearing impairment in Indonesian Muslim families, offering critical insights for the design of inclusive education, family-centered interventions, and faith-integrated policies.