Parental Evaluation of a Responsive Parenting Program for Infants with Hearing Loss

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Audiology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Parental satisfaction is crucial for evaluating early intervention programs but is understudied.
• The Muenster Parental Program (MPP) is an evidence-based, family-centered intervention for parents of infants (3-18 months) with hearing loss.
• The MPP supports parents of infants fitted with hearing devices, including cochlear implants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather parental feedback on the process and outcomes of the Muenster Parental Program (MPP).
• To assess parental satisfaction with the MPP's content, delivery, and overall benefits.

Main Methods:

• An evaluation questionnaire was administered to 52 participants of the MPP post-intervention.
• Participants included 44 mothers, 7 fathers, and 1 godmother.
• Infants (N=45) had moderate to profound hearing loss, aged 2-20 months, with 40% having additional health or developmental concerns.

Main Results:

• Parents reported high satisfaction with the MPP's content, didactics, setting, and individual benefits.
• A high recommendation rate of 92% was observed.
• 96% of parents reported a change in their communication style with their child, confirming MPP's effectiveness in enhancing parental responsiveness.

Conclusions:

• The MPP demonstrates high parental satisfaction across diverse caregivers and child profiles.
• The program's content, setting, and didactics are well-suited to various needs.
• The MPP is effective for a broad range of caregivers supporting children with hearing loss.