title: Cochlear implants in children implanted in Jordan: A parental overview.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exploring the perspective of parents on the cochlear implant process in Jordan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty parents of deaf children were surveyed on the information gathering process prior to cochlear implant surgery, and their implant outcome expectations post-surgery. Whether child or parent characteristics may impact parents' post-surgical expectations was explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although parents used a variety of information sources when considering a cochlear implant, the ear, nose and throat doctor comprised their major source of information (60%). Parents received a range of information prior to cochlear implant but agreed (93.3%) on the need for a multidisciplinary team approach. Post-surgically, parents' expected major developments in the areas of spoken language (97%), and auditory skills (100%). Receiving education in mainstream schools (92%) was expected too. Parents perceived the cochlear implant decision as the best decision they can make for their child (98.3%). A significant correlation was found between parents contentment with the cochlear implant decision and expecting developments in the area of reading and writing (r=0.7). Child's age at implantation and age at hearing loss diagnosis significantly affected parents' post-implant outcome expectations (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the general satisfaction from the information quantity and quality prior to cochlear implant, parents agree on the need for a comprehensive multidisciplinary team approach during the different stages of the cochlear implant process. Parents' education about cochlear implants prior to the surgery can affect their post-surgical outcome expectations. The parental perspective presented in this study can help professionals develop better understanding of parents' needs and expectations and henceforth improve their services and support during the different stages of the cochlear implant process.
authors.affiliation: The University of Jordan, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Jordan. Electronic address: r.khamra@ju.edu.jo.
authors.forename: Rana A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Alkhamra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D007597:Jordan; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Children; Cochlear implants; Jordan; Parental overview; Post-surgical expectations; Pre-surgical information