Perceptions and Experiences of Thai Parents Who Have a Child With a Cochlear Implant

Abstract

Owing to limited medical and early intervention services for children with hearing loss in Thailand, parents face challenges regarding communication and amplification options for their child. Eight parents of children who had received a cochlear implant were interviewed to elicit their perceptions and experience of the process in selecting this option for their child who is deaf. Qualitative methods were used to analyze the data and organize them into themes. Four major themes emerged from the findings: (a) parents did not know what to do after the initial diagnosis; (b) parents’ views of hearing loss and reasons for pursing a cochlear implant; (c) challenging issues after implantation; and (d) what is needed to make the process better for Thai families. The findings provide information on what parents need to professionals who are developing medical and early intervention services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families in Thailand.