Parents' Views on Changing Communication After Cochlear Implantation
By Watson, Linda M.; Hardie, Tim; Archbold, Sue M.; Wheeler, Alexandra; Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 104-116Publication Date: Winter 2008
Study investigating the views of parents of children with cochlear implants regarding the communication approach used by and with their child prior to and following implantation. Questionnaires were sent to families of all 288 children who had received cochlear implants at the Nottingham Cochlear Implant Centre in the UK at least 5 years prior to the study. Of the 142 replies received, 119 indicated that the child and family had changed their communication approach following cochlear implantation. In 113 cases the change was toward spoken language and in 6 cases the change was toward signed communication. In response to statements about communication with their deaf child, parents indicated that they wanted the most effective means of communication and one that their child would find most useful in the future. Findings that emerged from parents’ comments indicated that the change toward greater use of spoken language was child-led and driven by improved hearing ability. Parents also valued signed communication in certain situations, such as when the child is interacting with deaf friends.
Published by: Oxford University Press (Website:http://www.oup.co.uk)
Link to text: http://jdsde.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/1/104
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J53902
