A survey of parental views regarding their child's hearing loss: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Assess parental perceptions of their child's sensorineural hearing loss care.


METHODS
Families of pediatric patients diagnosed with a sensorineural hearing loss from 2000 to 2004 were sent a survey asking about their experiences with their child's hearing loss.


RESULTS
One hundred eight of 389 families surveyed were studied. Thirteen percent did not know the results of the newborn screening. Twenty-two percent of the primary care physicians were not involved in the child's hearing evaluation. Forty percent of the patients underwent 4 or more audiologic tests before a diagnosis. The most common reason for delayed diagnosis was difficulty in obtaining an appointment with an audiologist. Sixty-two percent of families had difficulties obtaining hearing aids, and 58% noted difficulties obtaining cochlear implants.


CONCLUSIONS
Families reported multiple obstacles to obtain timely diagnosis and treatment. Otolaryngologists may need to be more involved in the evaluation and treatment of these patients.


METHODS
C-4.
Park
Albert H
AH
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA. pcapark@ihc.com
Warner
Jonathan
J
Sturgill
Nanette
N
Alder
Stephen C
SC
D001299:Audiometry; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010332:Paternal Behavior; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index