The purpose of this study is to examine effects of non-verbal art therapy on self-expression among children with hearing impairments. two children with hearing impairments-fiveand six years old, respectively-participated in the research and 15 sessions of the non-verbal art therapy program were implemented once a week from March 7 to June 27, 2007. In applying the program each session, analysis was performed on work sand behaviors by target children by the Art Self-Expression test and the Behavior Observation Check list, the Self-reference Category System. In addition, comparative analysis was performed on changes in self-expression before and after the application ofthe program by the House-Tree-Person Test and Kinetic-Family-Drawing, both of which are drawing-based diagnosis tools. As a result, First, Child A had artself-expression improved by 33% pointand Child B by 49% point as compared with pre-application of the program. Second, the behavior observation checklist for children with hearing impairmentsalso indicated thatself-expression improved by 45% point as compared with the early stage of the program. Third, the drawing tests before and after the application of the program indicated that post-program drawings had less anxiety, shrinkage, compulsion, inferiority complex, and isolation interfering with self-expression as compared with pre-program ones and improvements in self-esteem and confidence. Fourth, there was a change from negative self and others expression into positive one and expression of self-emotion became diverse; frequency of attempts to do communication became high, resulting in expansion of self-expression. This demonstrates that non-verbal art therapy promoted self-confidence and autonomy among children with hearing impairments having difficulties in doing communication and ultimately exerted positive effectson expansion of self-expression.
Key Words: Non-verbal Art Therapy, Children with Hearing Impairment, Self-Expression