Pediatric cochlear implantation: A qualitative study of parental decision-imaking processes in Flanders, BELGIUM

Stefan Hardonk*, Sigrid Bosteels, Greetje Desnerck, Gerrit Loots, Geert Van Hove, Erwin Van Kerschaver, Christophe Vanroelen, Fred Louckx

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING to parents' decision when they choose between cochlear implantation (CI) and traditional hearing aids for their child were examined. The subjects were children with severe/profound hearing loss, born 1999-2001, registered in the universal neonatal hearing screening program in the Flanders region of Belgium. Qualitative data collected retrospectively from parents were subjected to thematic content analysis. In their responses to professional advice, parents were segmented into 3 groups: (a) those whose primary considerations were the importance of oral language development and the relative potential of CI and traditional hearing aids; (b) those for whom alternative factors (e.g., medical risks, ethical issues) were paramount, even in the face of professional advocacy of CI; (c) those who followed professional advice against CI. The researchers conclude that care professionals should be sensitive to the impact of their advice and other factors in parental decision making.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)339-352
Number of pages14
JournalAmerican Annals of the Deaf
Volume155
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

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