Assessment of the main factors involved in the auditory-verbal rehabilitation process in children with cochlear implants

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND. Children’s communication with the family and the environmental surroundings begins immediately after birth and development continues throughout life. Impairment of hearing due to the presence of congenital hypoacusis results in severe language development disorders. The purpose of the study was to identify the main factors involved in the auditory-verbal rehabilitation process of children with hearing impairment. MATERIAL AND METHODS. A descriptive, observational study was conducted on a group of 35 carers of hearing-impaired children proposed for auditory-verbal rehabilitation through cochlear implantation. The study carried out was based on the parents’ statements, analyzing the essential factors that can influence the quality of life of parents with hearing-impaired children: the child’s age at the time of the positive diagnosis, the child’s communication skills before implantation, the time elapsed from the intervention to implant activation, participation in auditory-verbal rehabilitation sessions with a speech therapist, parental commitment during the immediate pre- and post-implant period, the parent’s level of education. RESULTS. The dominance of the female gender can be noted - 91.43%. 60% of adult participants were college graduates, 20% discontinued their education after completing high school, 17.14% graduated from a post-secondary school. 57.14% of the parents reported being employed in some form of work during the period before and immediately after the cochlear implantation of their children. 82.85% reported the diagnosis of their child’s hypoacusis in the pre-kindergarten group. Out of the total number of children, 68.57% were recipients of bilateral cochlear implants, 31.43% had unilateral implants. The periods during which children benefited from post-implantation speech therapy were between 1 and 6 months (5.71%), 1 and 2 years (2.86%), >2 years (17.14%). In 71.43% of cases, families were in the rehabilitation phase with speech therapy at the time of filling out the form. CONCLUSION. In the auditory-verbal rehabilitation process of a hearing-impaired child, there are a number of factors and conditions that must be considered in a specific manner for each individual patient.