title: Practitioners' perspectives on the functioning of school-age children with cochlear implants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The availability of cochlear implants has increased the number of children with profound deafness educated in classrooms alongside peers with normal hearing. The purpose of this research was to better understand the functioning of these children from the perspective of their service providers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with 28 practitioners to elicit their perceptions of children's abilities in oral communication, academic, and social functioning. Data were coded inductively and examined through content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The central theme was that cochlear implantation has improved school functioning for children both in hearing and related spoken language abilities and beyond hearing in academic and social development. While these benefits were a consistent theme, a wide range of performance was identified across all areas of functioning. In particular, areas of concern included full participation in classroom activities and social interaction with peers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings provide insights into functioning for children with cochlear implants from the perspective of those who interact with them in everyday settings. These findings underscore the challenges for children in achieving full participation despite improvements in communication skills. Practitioners identified areas where intervention is required to facilitate the inclusion of children in school programs.
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olds
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001298:Audiology; D002648:Child; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D005178:Faculty; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D009864:Ontario; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013067:Speech Perception; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology; D013334:Students
keywords: Academic functioning; Children; Cochlear implant; Communication; Qualitative research; Social development