Am J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg | Volume 4, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access
Hulya Gocmenler1,3*, Can Ilgın2, Ayca Ciprut3 and Stavros Hatzopoulos4
1Department of Audiology, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Turkey
2Department of Public Health, Marmara University, Turkey
3Department of Audiology, Marmara University, Turkey
4Clinic of Audiology & ENT, University of Ferrara, Italy
*Correspondance to: Hülya Göçmenler
Fulltext PDFObjective: The study aimed to assess: (i) the quality of life of parents having children with hearing disability; (ii) their adaptation to this process; (iii) their difficulties in raising their children; and (iv) the strategies involved for affronting the issue of hearing deficits.
Method: In-depth interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire form were conducted in a sample consisting of 8 parents with hearing impaired children. The children (2 to 12 years) included in the study have used at first bilateral hearing aids and then they have continued with cochlear implants. The data were thematically analyzed with ATLAS.ti 8.1.
Result: The data suggested that 3 main themes, 7 subthemes and 50 codes were present in the information collected from the questionnaires. The three main themes emerged from the data were related to: (1) The relationship between the family and the social environment; (2) The effects of hearing loss; (3) The family’s access to the healthcare system.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the use of cochlear implants at an early age with an oral communication mode is associated with a higher family satisfaction. Also, the education and the language development of the children and the effect of hearing aids are important factors for the well-being of families with hearing impaired children.
Qualitative study; Wellbeing of parents; Hearing loss
Gocmenler H, Ilgın C, Ciprut A, Hatzopoulos S. Wellbeing of Parents with Hard of Hearing Children: A Qualitative Study. Am J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021; 4(1): 1120..