Parental Support for Post Operative Intervention of Children with Cochlear Implantation

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Parental involvement is crucial for children's rehabilitation outcomes.
• Assessing parental engagement in pediatric cochlear implant (CI) rehabilitation is vital for support and prediction.
• A validated tool for measuring this specific aspect of parental involvement was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel questionnaire to measure parental involvement in the rehabilitation of children with cochlear implants (CI).
• To identify key areas of parental participation and challenges faced by families.

Main Methods:

• A 41-item questionnaire was created based on Des Jardin's Scale of Parental Involvement.
• The questionnaire covers participation in therapy, family support, device maintenance, and school involvement.
• 100 mothers of children who received CI between 2010-2020 completed the questionnaire on a 3-point scale.

Main Results:

• Over 80% of parents regularly attended therapy sessions.
• 13% of parents faced challenges with speech processor spare parts due to cost and availability.
• Financial support for the CI child and siblings was available for only 58% of parents.
• Academic achievement was a concern for 35% of parents.

Conclusions:

• The developed questionnaire provides a valuable tool for assessing parental involvement in pediatric CI rehabilitation.
• Significant challenges remain, including financial constraints, device accessibility, and academic support, impacting families.
• Addressing these parental concerns is essential for optimizing CI outcomes and family well-being.