The Difficulties Encountered by Pediatric Cochlear Implant Patients and Their Parents during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The daily escalation in incidence and mortality caused by Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has mandated forced curfew in our country (same as many other countries) to limit the spread of infection. This is predicted to have a more negative impact on cochlear implant (CI) patients since this group of patients needs a unique type of psychological, medical, and technical care in addition to a daily rehabilitation program. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A cross-sectional study based on Arabic questionnaire that looked into the collateral consequences of COVID-19 on the pediatric CI patients. The questionnaire was designed to highlight different problems such as exposure to head trauma or ear infection, difficulties in device maintenance and getting spare parts, impacts of the delay of programing or switch on appointments, and the impacts of missing rehabilitation sessions. Different ways of management of these problems are presented and discussed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 174 parents responded to the questionnaire. The main problem met by the patients was missing their device programing and rehabilitation sessions. Many children had device maintenance and spare parts problems. Virtual clinics were helpful in solving different problems. Additionally, children who needed device programing were scheduled for remote programing sessions. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Although the inevitable consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are catastrophic, they are forcing the medical field to explore new opportunities by sitting up an infrastructure for future usage of telemedicine. Telemedicine is cost-effective and more convenient and enables health-care providers to be immune to future circumstances.

Effect of a Global Pandemic on Adult and Pediatric Cochlear Implantation across the United States

“…By contrast with older adults, pediatric patients experienced little disruption in access to CIs during the pandemic, despite the many barriers facing this population during this period (4,5). Given the widespread appreciation for critical periods of neuroplasticity during pediatric development and resultant importance of early implantation, many CI centers rendered cochlear implantation for congenital deafness of "urgent" necessity.…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic introduced multiple barriers to cochlear implantation (1)(2)(3)(4)(5), and thus far, the magnitude of the pandemic's effect on cochlear implant (CI) hearing healthcare in the United States is unknown. One of the primary challenges to understanding the extent of the pandemic's national effect on cochlear implantation extends from the pragmatic limitation in the United States surrounding the absence of a national healthcare registry.…”

Accessing hearing‐health services for deaf and hard‐of‐hearing children during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Parent and child perspectives

“…One study involving children with cochlear implants in the United Arab Emirates throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic revealed that timely access to cochlear mapping appointments was delayed for these children, with most parents lacking access to adequate follow‐up (Ayas et al, 2020 ). Another study conducted in Saudi Arabia by Telmesani et al ( 2021 ) following paediatric cochlear implant patients during COVID‐19 similarly reported difficulties for patients in obtaining follow‐up cochlear programming appointments, with access to surgery, audiology and speech and language pathology delayed especially during lockdown periods. These findings highlight the worldwide impact of COVID‐19 on healthcare service delivery.…”

The effects of covid-19 pandemic on children with hearing aids

“…As the access to primary health care decreased due to restrictions, telehealth services began to be needed (Wong, Ming, Maslow, & Gifford, 2020). All health systems, hospitals, and clinics started to implement telehealth services rapidly, and thus patient care and treatment services changed (Telmesani, Said, Mahrous, & Alrusayyis, 2021). As in most health fields, the audiology unit has also been negatively affected by the traditional face-to-face appointment system.…”