Experience of Hearing Loss, Communication, Social Participation, and Psychological Well-Being Among Adolescents With...

Pediatric cochlear implantation has successfully provided many congenitally deaf children the opportunity to learn to hear and speak. However, outcomes are mostly assessed through formal audiological testing or by gathering perspectives of parents and teachers rather than the children themselves. Sixty-five children with cochlear implants (CIs) aged 11-15 years were asked about their CI use and other factors related to communication, experiences of hearing loss, social participation and friendships, and psychological well-being. The findings revealed diverse experiences; e.g., 55.4% of the children reported feeling different from others their age, while 18.5% reported trying to hide their CIs often or all the time. The findings also suggested diversity in communication needs: 41.5% reported being interested in learning more sign language. The study highlights the importance of providing tailored, flexible support for a heterogeneous population of children with varied strengths and needs.