Parents’ Perspectives of Center-Based Early Intervention Services for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Children

Abstract

Parents of children who are newly identified as deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) face many decisions surrounding communication and intervention, including where to receive early intervention (EI) services. This study explored the experiences and perspectives of parents of DHH children enrolled in a center-based, family-centered EI program focused on developing listening and spoken language in California. Seventeen families participated in biannual focus groups following a semi-structured interview protocol that focused on parental decision-making and experiences receiving center-based services. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to code transcripts of the focus groups. The data coalesced around three main themes: (a) a variety of influences on technology and communication decisions, (b) the value of center-based services, and (c) a sense of empowerment and drive for advocacy. Caregivers particularly valued connections to other families of DHH children and the expertise of center-based EI providers as they navigated the first few years following identification.