Parental perspectives of children using cochlear implant.

Marcela Roselin Stefanini,Marina Morettin,Maria Cecília Bevilacqua,Adriane Lima Mortari Moret,Julia Speranza Zabeu

doi:10.1590/2317-1782/20142014125

Marcela Roselin Stefanini, Marina Morettin + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20142014125

Copy DOI

Abstract

To evaluate the parents' perspective with regard to evolution of their child with cochlear implant (CI). This was a cross-sectional prospective study conducted at the Centro de Pesquisas Audiológicas of Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais of Universidade de São Paulo. The selection of the sample was performed from the spontaneous demand, among the months from July to December 2011. The final sample comprised 50 parents or guardians of children using CI, with minimum 1 year and maximum of 3 years of device use. The translated and adapted to Brazilian Portuguese version of the questionnaire "Perspectives of parents of children with cochlear implants" was applied. This instrument consists of 74 questions and allows quantification of the parents' perspective on subscales that illustrate the situation of the child and family. Each question has five options scored from one to five responses. The Spearman test for comparison of results between the subscales was applied. The social relationships, self-sufficiency, and communication subscales showed the highest mean score, whereas the worst score was for child support subscale, reflecting the independence and autonomy of the patients. The correlation between the child subscales was realized, and the results showed themselves significant and positive for communication subscale of communication with all others subscales. The family subscales also had a positive correlation with the communication, education, and self-sufficiency. These results demonstrate that parents have good expectations regarding communication, independence, and social participation of children after CI surgery, and this questionnaire is a useful tool for use in clinical practice.

Highlights

The use of cochlear implant (CI) in children provides important benefits for the development of listening and communication skills and allows their progress in school and, later on, in the ability to obtain, maintain, and perform a professional occupation
Considering that the goals and wishes of parents must be taken into account during the planning of the therapeutical process[11] and on the establishment of long-term goals, allowing psychological and social adjustment, school performance, and future employment options for the child[12], this study evaluated the parental perspective in relation to CI on the evolution of the child
As for the socioeconomic classification, it was observed that most families were in the low superior category (62%), followed by the medium inferior category (26%) and the low inferior one (12%)

Summary

Introduction

The use of cochlear implant (CI) in children provides important benefits for the development of listening and communication skills and allows their progress in school and, later on, in the ability to obtain, maintain, and perform a professional occupation. Many children in the world have been receiving the CI[1,2]. The success of this intervention depends on many factors. Among the factors related to family, the parental expectations and the support resources provided by them to the children in the acquisition of listening and language experience, in addition to the dynamics of social relations within the family and with other relatives, play an important role[3]. It is observed that, a series of objective and subjective tests are performed in CI services in order to evaluate the progress of children, it is the parents who may best assess the results and impacts of the device in their lives[4,5]

Methods

Results

Conclusion