Deaf Parents and Pediatric Cochlear Implantation: An Exploration of the Decision-Making Process

Abstract

The study examined factors in deaf parents' decision between cochlear implantation (CI) and traditional hearing aids for their child. The subjects were 6 Flemish children ages 5-9 years with severe/profound congenital hearing loss, with at least 1 deaf parent. The researchers, who conducted thematic content analysis of qualitative data collected through parent interviews, found that with the exception of a family with 1 hearing parent, parents gave priority to Deaf identity, sign language, and ethical issues in deciding between CI and hearing aids. Medical risks were also mentioned. The researchers conclude that the decision-making processes of the parents involved factors that have also been found among hearing parents, as well as aspects that have not been reported to play a role in hearing parents' decision making. A further conclusion is that deaf parents' perspective merits attention in professional practice and empirical research.

Speech, Sign, or Multilingualism for Children With Hearing Loss: Quantitative Insights Into Caregivers' Decision Making

“…The desire for oral communication has been related to providing broader education opportunities, better speech and language development, and better opportunities for socialization (Hyde, Punch, & Komesaroff, 2010;Li et al, 2003). Caregivers' perceptions that mainstream education will afford their children access to better opportunities in their future lives have been reported in a number of studies (e.g., Archbold et al, 2002;Hardonk et al, 2011;Li et al, 2003). However, education placement is a complex issue.…”

“…However, education placement is a complex issue. Hardonk et al (2011) found that Deaf parents who made decisions about cochlear implantation for their children with hearing loss were concerned about both their children's ability to cope with the demands of mainstream education and the potential for low educational outcomes of children attending special schools.…”

“…Planning for children's academic and vocational success has also been reported to influence caregivers' preferences for different communication modes (Hardonk et al, 2011;Li et al, 2003).…”

“…Caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and values regarding hearing loss and communication were found to impact on decision making in some studies (Decker et al, 2012;Li et al, 2003). In addition, engagement in early intervention may influence decision making Gravel & O'Gara, 2003), as may caregivers' desires for their children to participate in the culture of the family and/or the Deaf and/or hearing community (Borum, 2012;Hardonk et al, 2011).…”

Cochlear Implantation, Enhancements, Transhumanism and Posthumanism: Some Human Questions

“…This neuroprosthetic can support hearing and spokenlanguage development in children (Hardonk et al 2011;Hyde et al 2010). Nevertheless, Sarant's review (2012) concludes that on the one hand for some children, cochlear implants have enabled outcomes such as those their hearing peers achieve in post-secondary school study, employment, and social relationships in the hearing world.…”