Involving young people in decision making about sequential cochlear implantation

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Otolaryngology
• Pediatric Medicine

Background:

• National guidelines recommend assessment for sequential cochlear implants (CIs) in young people.
• Group information and counseling assessments offer potential benefits for CI candidates.
• Previous research highlights the importance of involving children in decision-making processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and family reception of group information and counseling sessions for sequential cochlear implant (CI) assessment.
• To explore the benefits of a group format that allows separate discussions for young people and their parents/guardians.

Main Methods:

• Families considering a sequential CI underwent a group information/counseling session.
• Sessions included separate time for parents and children, facilitated by a multidisciplinary team.
• Fourteen groups were conducted, involving approximately 62 patients.

Main Results:

• Family feedback indicated positive support for the group counseling format.
• Questionnaire responses showed a preference for group over individual sessions (7 out of 9 families).
• All respondents approved of separate sessions for children and parents/guardians.

Conclusions:

• The group format and psychological focus were well-received in a surgical assessment setting.
• The study emphasizes the importance of involving young people in the decision-making process for sequential CIs.
• The positive feedback suggests potential for using group formats in other assessment processes.