title: Parents' views on changing communication after cochlear implantation.
abstract: We sent questionnaires to families of all 288 children who had received cochlear implants at one center in the United Kingdom at least 5 years previously. Thus, it was a large, unselected group. We received 142 replies and 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. Parents were asked to respond to statements about communication with their deaf child, and their responses indicated that parents 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 increased audition. Parents also valued the contribution of signed communication.
authors.affiliation: School of Education, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. l.m.watson@bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hardie
authors.forename: Sue M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Archbold
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wheeler
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires