Paediatric Cochlear Implantation Outcomes: Parental Expectations and Experiences

To study parental pre-implant expectations and post-implant experiences of their children's cochlear implant outcomes. Parents of 27 children with cochlear implant participated in the survey. Study investigated and compared the pre-implant expectations and experiences of post-implant outcomes using ICF based questionnaire on items related to domains listening, communication, learning and applying knowledge, interpersonal interactions and relationships and environmental factors. Parental expectations of their children's cochlear implant outcomes were high and largely been met. Benefits with cochlear implant surpassed the expectations in the domains of listening and environmental factors. Positive high correlation was observed between all domains related to expectations. All domains related to experiences of CI outcomes except listening showed positive and significant correlation with each other. No correlation was observed between child variables; current age, age at implantation and implant age and any of the domains. With regards to expectations, fathers held significantly high expectations when compared to mothers. Parents demonstrate high pre-implant expectations and positive experiences post cochlear implantation across range of outcomes.