Parental perspectives regarding early intervention and its role in cochlear implantation in children.
OBJECTIVE
To examine parental perspectives regarding services provided to families of hearing-impaired children under federally funded early-intervention (EI) programs with respect to support of cochlear implantation. Furthermore, to examine if family ethnicity or income was correlated with use of cochlear implants.


METHODS
A 4-page retrospective survey was mailed to parents of children who received Nucleus cochlear implants.


METHODS
Surveys were sent to parents' registered home addresses.


METHODS
A random stratified sample of 300 parents residing in the United States was drawn from the registration database maintained by Cochlear Americas.


METHODS
Surveys were administered after the children received a cochlear implant.


METHODS
Family ratings of perceived bias during advisement, services received under EI and difficulty accessing such services, and family's socioeconomic status and ethnicity.


RESULTS
Children who were non-Caucasian and of lower socioeconomic status were underrepresented in the cochlear implant population. Parents noted a lack of "comprehensive and bias-free" information regarding communication options and technology under EI and sometimes experienced difficulty in obtaining certain services.


CONCLUSIONS
Early-intervention professionals are the common denominator for families seeking information and services because they explain, help initiate, and expedite diagnostic and treatment services. Because low- and moderate-income families may have greater difficulty negotiating the cochlear implant process, EI can facilitate full access to this intervention by those with fewer financial resources.
Sorkin
Donna L
DL
Cochlear Americas, Englewood, Colorado 80112, U.S.A. dsorkin@cochlear.com
Zwolan
Teresa A
TA
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires