Parental expectations and outcomes of pediatric cochlear implantation.
BACKGROUND
Cochlear implants have been used with increasing frequency over the past twenty years, including very young patients.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if parents are satisfied with their children's performance after cochlear implantation.


METHODS
Survey mailed to parents of children receiving cochlear implants.


RESULTS
31 questionnaires were returned out of 69 mailed (45 %). The vast majority of responding parents felt that their children benefited substantially from cochlear implant surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Cochlear implantation is effective in helping children develop auditory-oral communication skills. Access to auditory/oral communication programs in this state remains an obstacle in postoperative habilitation.
Piazza
Elizabeth
E
Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Blair E Batson Hospital for Children, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
Kandathil
Cherian
C
Carron
Jeffrey D
JD
D002648:Child; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000191:economics; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003142:Communication; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008484:Medicaid; D008922:Mississippi; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States