Parental distress: the initial phase of hearing aid and cochlear implant fitting.
The results of previous cross-section studies suggest that childhood hearing impairment may lead to parental psychosocial stress. The present study investigated whether modifications in parental psychic state can be ascertained in connection with the child's treatment events and the child's hearing and speech status, in a prospective study design. Data were available on 116 fathers and mothers regarding the pre-cochlear implant examination or hearing aid fitting of their child. In the course of the child's treatment, parental quality of life improved from a low to a normal level. Among children who were at the stage of pre-examination for a cochlear implant, better hearing and speech capacity was linked to more severe impairment of the parental state. It is emphasized that the parents whose children showed comparatively good language development at the time of pre-examination for a cochlear implant were especially subjected to stress.
Burger
Thorsten
T
Phoniatric and Pedaudiological Section, Freiburg University Ear, Nose, And Throat (ENT) Clinic, Freiburg, Germany.
Spahn
Claudia
C
Richter
Bernhard
B
Eissele
Susanne
S
Löhle
Erwin
E
Bengel
Jürgen
J
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires