Cochlear Implant Decisions in South Africa: Parental Views, Barriers, and Influences
Healthcare,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
13(7), P. 787 - 787
Published: April 1, 2025
Background:
Cochlear
implants
(CIs)
have
become
a
widely
used
intervention
for
Deaf
and
hard-of-hearing
(DHH)
children,
particularly
developing
spoken
language.
However,
parental
decision-making
regarding
CIs
is
influenced
by
range
of
factors,
including
socio-economic
status,
healthcare
accessibility,
cultural
beliefs,
societal
attitudes.
While
extensive
research
on
perceptions
exists
in
high-income
countries
(HICs),
there
limited
these
perspectives
low-
middle-income
(LMICs),
like
South
Africa,
where
disparities
access
significantly
impact
CI
uptake.
Objectives:
This
study
aimed
to
explore
the
views
African
parents
their
DHH
with
specific
focus
how
financial,
cultural,
informational
barriers
influence
decision-making.
Methods:
A
mixed-methods
approach
was
used,
combining
Q-methodology
quantitative
data
thematic
analysis
qualitative
insights.
Nine
children
participated.
The
Q-set
survey
ranked
attitudes
toward
risks,
benefits,
while
semi-structured
interviews
provided
deeper
insights
into
processes.
Factor
grouped
participants
clusters
based
perceptions,
were
analysed
using
framework
approach.
Results:
Findings
revealed
two
distinct
clusters:
(a)
Cluster
1
viewed
as
essential
speech
development
strongly
supported
implantation,
(b)
2
recognized
benefits
but
emphasized
that
outcomes
vary
individual
circumstances.
Three
overarching
themes
emerged
from
analysis:
(1)
financial
restricting
access,
(2)
reliance
medical
professionals
decision-making,
(3)
persistent
stigma
beliefs
influencing
perceptions.
Conclusions:
highlights
critical
inequities,
infrastructure,
stigma.
largely
CIs,
decisions
shaped
constraints
concerns
about
identity
acceptance.
calls
expansion
publicly
funded
programmes,
culturally
tailored
counselling
protocols,
targeted
public
awareness
campaigns
reduce
surrounding
hearing
restoration
devices.
These
interventions
can
help
mitigate
adoption
Africa.
Language: Английский
Communication Outcomes of Children with Hearing Loss: A Comparison of Two Early Intervention Approaches
Audiology Research,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
15(2), P. 27 - 27
Published: March 8, 2025
Background:
Early
intervention
approaches
play
a
critical
role
in
shaping
the
communication
outcomes
of
children
with
hearing
loss,
influencing
their
language
development
and
overall
learning
trajectory.
Objectives:
The
main
objective
this
study
was
to
compare
loss
who
received
Listening
Spoken
Language-South
Africa
(LSL-SA)
those
Traditional
Speech-Language
Therapy
(TSLT).
Methods:
A
retrospective
record
review
conducted
gather
data
on
from
participants’
speech-language
therapy
records.
Communication
were
measured
using
standardized
assessments
evaluating
speech
intelligibility,
expressive
vocabulary,
receptive
language,
audition,
cognitive–linguistic
skills.
analyzed
quantitative
statistics.
Key
statistical
methods
included
measures
determine
associations,
identify
significance,
outcomes,
differences
between
two
groups.
Results:
found
that
LSL-SA
group
had
statistically
significant
better
63%
achieving
age-appropriate
intelligibility
compared
45%
TSLT
(p
=
0.046).
Similar
trends
observed
for
vocabulary
(LSL-SA:
58%
vs.
TSLT:
39%,
p
0.048)
60%
0.043).
Additionally,
66%
recommended
mainstream
schooling,
39%
0.0023).
These
findings
highlight
importance
early
amplification
structured
improving
outcomes.
results
also
emphasize
Hearing
Detection
Intervention
(EHDI)
decreasing
odds
delay
irrespective
type
approach,
although
higher
proportion
approach
achieved
than
group.
Conclusions:
This
highlights
aligned
practice
promote
enhance
spoken
facilitating
successful
transitions
schooling.
Contribution:
provides
contextually
relevant
evidence
implementing
an
loss.
implications
these
clinical
future
research
are
discussed
detail.
Language: Английский