Abstract

This purpose of this study was to examine parental perceptions of health-related quality of life in their children with cochlear implants. The researcher developed a survey to explore factors of the child’s quality of life in the areas of social, physical, and emotional quality of life. Questions included probes specific to the child’s cochlear implant(s). The survey was distributed through the AG Bell Association’s weekly emails for recruiting participants. Also, parents of children who were enrolled in the Auditory- Verbal therapy program at the Cleveland Clinic were encouraged to participate in this study via a letter from the researcher and her advisor. Parents of children ages 5-13 years old who are/were enrolled in Listening and Spoken Language (Auditory-Verbal) therapy and who had at least one cochlear implant, were the target subjects for this study. Results of this study found that parents of children with cochlear implant(s) generally reported their children had a positive quality of life. Also, parents were pleased with Listening and Spoken Language (Auditory-Verbal) therapy as their child’s communication outcome. One major implication of this study was that audiologists and other related professionals should continue to inform families regarding the health-related quality of life for children with hearing impairment in order to help demonstrate that children are capable of having a most positive quality of life, living with hearing loss.

Advisor

Goldberg, Don

Department

Communication Studies

Disciplines

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Keywords

cochlear implants, health-realted quality of life

Publication Date

2014

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2014 Jordan P. Parker