Cochlear implantation for children with single-sided deafness: parents' perspectives

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Cochlear implantation historically treated bilateral severe to profound hearing loss.
• Expanded indications now include single-sided deafness (SSD) due to benefits of binaural hearing for development.
• Unilateral hearing limitations impact children's linguistic and cognitive skill acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively explore the lived experiences of children with SSD using cochlear implants (CI).
• To gather parental perspectives on the outcomes of CI for children with SSD.
• To identify motivating factors, benefits, challenges, and advice related to pediatric CI for SSD.

Main Methods:

• Online questionnaire distributed to parents of children with SSD in New Zealand and the United States.
• Qualitative content analysis of open-ended questions to identify key themes.
• Evaluation of outcomes including amplification benefits, challenges, and quality of life changes.

Main Results:

• Parents reported benefits such as improved sound access, academic and psychosocial development.
• Subjective improvements included enhanced spatial hearing, reduced listening fatigue, and better academic performance.
• Challenges associated with the CI journey and positive changes in quality of life were also noted.

Conclusions:

• Parental insights provide valuable perspectives on the impact of CI for children with SSD.
• Cochlear implantation demonstrates significant benefits for children with SSD, influencing development and quality of life.
• These findings support healthcare providers in considering CI for SSD, even as an elective procedure.