Everyday problems and stress faced by parents of children with cochlear implants.

Abstract

Objectives: To explore everyday problems associated with parenting children who undergo cochlear implantation (CI), to investigate parents’ interpersonal relationships as a resource for collaborative problem solving, and to examine links among parents’ everyday problems, stress, and life satisfaction. Method: 31 parents of deaf children with CI responded to open-ended questions regarding types of everyday problems encountered within the specific context of parenting those children. Parents also completed the Parental Stress Index/Short Form and the Life Satisfaction Scale. Results: Problems were categorized in 9 domains: implant drawbacks, communication difficulties, child’s behavior and character, socialization, habilitation demands and parenting role, financial difficulties, services, educating others and/or advocacy, and academic concerns. Professionals, spouses, and other parents of deaf children were frequently nominated partners for collaborative everyday problem solving and coping. Significant correlations emerged among parents’ everyday problems, stress, and life satisfaction. Conclusions: Findings enhance understanding regarding the contextual specificity of everyday problems associated with raising deaf children with CI, beyond that obtained from a general measure of parental stress. This, in turn, can guide habilitation teams in working with families of implanted children.