| This study examined the experiences and perceptions of family members during early intervention following early identification of deafness. Participants included 207 family members of children receiving services in 39 different states. A questionnaire was mailed to families requesting ratings of satisfaction with areas of family life, the impact of deafness on areas of family life, satisfaction with child outcomes in communication, and family-professional partnerships and desired family supports. Analysis of the responses indicated that families in this study were largely satisfied with areas of family life and family-professional partnerships. There were no significant differences in satisfaction with family life between groups that differed in type of amplification, communication mode, income level, or age. Descriptive analysis suggested that though families were satisfied, they had lower ratings of satisfaction in the area of emotional well-being, with the lower satisfaction ratings observed on the items: having time to pursue interests, relieving stress, getting support from local agencies, inclusion in the community, and financial abilities. Families also reported that deafness had the largest impact on their emotional well-being, particularly related to time demands: having time to pursue interests, taking care of the special needs of all family members, having time to take care of the individual needs of every child, and relieving stress. In addition to emotional supports, families' comments expressed a desire for increased informational support, educational programs, financial support, parent support groups, providers with specialized training and support for community inclusion. Analysis of family members' perceptions of child outcomes indicated a significant difference in satisfaction based on type of amplification (cochlear implants and hearing aids), and communication mode. Family members of children using oral communication along with a cochlear implant and a hearing aid reported higher satisfaction with their child's progress in speech production and perception. Family members of children using cochlear implants alone were also more satisfied with their child's speech production and perception outcomes than children using hearing aids alone. No significant difference was found between any groups for satisfaction with language progress. These findings suggest that the use of cochlear implants at an early age with an oral communication mode is associated with higher satisfaction with speech production and perception. Future research is needed to identify additional variables that account for variance in perception of outcomes for children and families after early identification of deafness. |
