Investigation of Diagnosis, Evaluation and Monitoring Processes in Guidance and Research Centers: The Case of Children with Hearing Loss

Introduction: The study aims to reveal the function of diagnosis, evaluation, and monitoring processes in Guidance Research Center (GRC) on children with hearing loss. In addition, it examines whether there is a difference between the applications of GRCs and the reasons for possible differences.Method: The study is designed as a descriptive case study, including semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and reflective diaries for the researcher's observation. The research data collection process was carried out in GRCs in two districts of a medium-sized Central Anatolian city. 13 teachers from two GRCs participated in the research.Findings: The data analysis showed that the findings pointing to the functioning of GRC processes were grouped under seven themes: Opinions on diagnosis, evaluation, referral, placement, monitoring process, individualized education program (iep) and report renewal, problems experienced in GRC processes, and suggestions for GRC processes. The prominent findings can be exemplified as the lack of cooperation between the hospital and the GRC, the inadequacy of the evaluation forms, the lack of materials, the failure to provide the physical conditions suitable for the evaluation, and the attempt to monitor with annual reports.Discussion: The function of diagnosis, evaluation, orientation, placement, and monitoring processes and the problems experienced in these processes were compared with previous literature.