title: Knowledge, experience and practice of SLTs regarding (re)habilitation in deaf children with cochlear implants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge, experience and practices of speech and language therapists (SLTs) in Greece regarding children with cochlear implants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A special designed questionnaire was originally completed electronically by 313 SLTs via surveymonkey platform.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the 313 respondents 35% had worked with implanted children, 37% received course training and 44% had participated in post-graduate seminars. Although 96% believe that there are differences in the management of these children, almost 47% of the participants did not have adequate knowledge on the candidacy criteria for implantation and 70% regarding the available technology for implanted children. Knowledge and skills on CI were better for those SLTs who worked with hearing-impairment. Diverse practice models were noted. Interestingly, more than 87% of the participants advocated toward further training and supervision in the field, even the ones who had less than extensive knowledge in working with CI. As for practice, a lack of organizational interdisciplinary structure became evident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a growing need for well organized professional training and team networks for SLTs in order for them to further improve their knowledge and service delivery to implanted children.
authors.affiliation: University of Macedonia, Department of Educational and Social Policy, 156 Egnatias Street, P.O. Box 1591, Salonika 540 06, Greece; Hearing Group, Panhellenic Association of Logopedists, El. Venizelou 50, Athens 155 61, Greece(1). Electronic address: okalidou@uom.gr.
authors.forename: Areti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okalidou
authors.affiliation: Hearing Group, Panhellenic Association of Logopedists, El. Venizelou 50, Athens 155 61, Greece(1).
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitsona
authors.affiliation: Hearing Group, Panhellenic Association of Logopedists, El. Venizelou 50, Athens 155 61, Greece(1).
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anagnostou
authors.affiliation: Hearing Group, Panhellenic Association of Logopedists, El. Venizelou 50, Athens 155 61, Greece(1).
authors.forename: Marinella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsoukala
authors.affiliation: Hearing Group, Panhellenic Association of Logopedists, El. Venizelou 50, Athens 155 61, Greece(1).
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santzakli
authors.affiliation: Hearing Group, Panhellenic Association of Logopedists, El. Venizelou 50, Athens 155 61, Greece(1).
authors.forename: Stamatia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gouda
authors.affiliation: Hearing Group, Panhellenic Association of Logopedists, El. Venizelou 50, Athens 155 61, Greece(1); Athens University, Otolaryngology Department, Attiko University Hospital, Rimini 1, Athens 12462, Greece. Electronic address: nicolop@med.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Nikolopoulos
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006115:Greece; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007808:Language Therapy; D013070:Speech Therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Cochlear implant; Education; Knowledge; Logopedic; Rehabilitation; Speech and language therapist