Parent Perceptions of Audiology and Speech–Language Services and Support for Young Children With Cochlear Implants

Abstract

Parents of young children diagnosed with severe-profound sensorineural hearing loss are selecting cochlear implants at an increasing rate. Audiologists and speech–language pathologists are typically involved in habilitation activities following implantation. These clinicians depend upon parents to participate in habilitation activities. However, little information exists regarding parents’ perspectives on the services and supports audiologists and speech–language pathologists provide. The purpose of this study was to investigate parents’ postimplantation perceptions about the importance of different services provided and to measure their satisfaction with the support provided to them. Results revealed that parents were overwhelmingly positive about audiologists’ and speech–language pathologists’ services and support, but preferred services that directly benefited the child over those that supported the parent. Parents favored a family-centered approach in services but indicated that the greatest overall positive difference in services and support was for their child, followed by the positive difference for themselves, and then for other family members. We end by discussing the policy implications of our results.