Parental recommendations for cochlear implants: A qualitative study of parental experiences

Hearing parents who lack knowledge regarding hearing loss and medical intervention typically experience disorientation and stress when their child is diagnosed with hearing loss and needs a cochlear implant (CI). This study aims to document recommendations experienced parents may provide to new parents based on their experiences.

Sixteen parents of children with CI were interviewed, with the children's chronological age ranging between 26 and 91 months, averaging 11.7 months (standard deviation = 8.0) at the age of deafness diagnosis. Open-ended questions were asked to encourage parents to provide recommendations based on their interventional experiences. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis.

The study identified four main themes that emerged based on parents' suggestions to parents about to step into the child's CI intervention journey. These themes included (a) acceptance and action, (b) proactively searching for information, (c) help-seeking from others, and (d) being financially prepared.

The present qualitative study provides additional evidence to new parents on CI decision-making for their children who need CI. It suggests that new parents may seek guidance from parent-to-parent support groups and fully prepare themselves with essential knowledge and a healthy mentality before initiating their child's CI intervention journey.