Evaluating training courses for parents of children with cochlear implants

Area of Science:

• Pediatric audiology
• Communication sciences
• Parental education

Background:

• Effective parent-child communication is crucial for children with cochlear implants.
• Parental training programs can potentially enhance communication dynamics.
• The Hanen program offers strategies for supporting language development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a modified Hanen training course on parent-child communication effectiveness.
• To evaluate changes in interaction dynamics for families with children using cochlear implants.
• To determine if parental participation in a specific training program improves communication outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a modified Hanen training course for parents of children with cochlear implants.
• Employed video recordings of parent-child interactions before and after the training.
• Implemented the Erber rating scale for objective evaluation of communication effectiveness by independent observers.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in effective parent-child communication were observed post-training.
• Naïve independent observers rated parent-child interactions as more effective after the course.
• The Erber rating scale indicated a measurable increase in communication quality.

Conclusions:

• The modified Hanen training course positively impacts parent-child communication effectiveness.
• Parental training is a viable strategy for enhancing interactions in children with cochlear implants.
• Objective measures confirm the benefits of the intervention for families.