Importance of role models and mentors for improving care for late-deafened adults who become cochlear implant recipients

Abstract

Objective

There were two objectives of this current study. (1) To understand the impacts of hearing loss for late-deafened adults and the experiences of support received both from hearing healthcare providers and peers. (2) To understand the types of support needed during and after a cochlear implant.

Design

The study used mixed methods. A survey was posted to three cochlear implant social media groups and participants could self-select to participate in a semi-structured interview by leaving their email address.

Study sample: Forty-four late-deafened adults who had also received at least one cochlear implant answered the survey and 16 people were interviewed.

Results

A key finding was that most late-deafened adults did not have access to support through the progression of deafness. They often felt alone, making it difficult to maintain their sense of self while reconciling with the hearing changes forced on them. When participants had positive role models who had experienced hearing loss, or mentors who had undergone cochlear implantation, it assisted them in navigating their changing hearing status. Thus, improved connection to peers sustained self-esteem and improved coping strategies.

Conclusions

The findings suggest hearing healthcare providers need to introduce a mentoring and support structure for connected care.

Keywords:

• Support
• role models
• mentors
• deaf
• cochlear implant
• late-deafened adult
• hearing-loss
• hearing healthcare providers

Acknowledgements

Thank you to all participants as well as the social media moderators and CICADA, who helped with recruitment. Thank you to A/Prof Nicole Matthews for her supervision of the Master of Research degree and to Dr Chi Lo for his input and overview of this manuscript. The author confirms they have no competing interests.

Author contribution

This research was undertaken under supervision as part of the Master of Research degree. All design, data collection, analysis and reporting are the works of the author.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data access

Data can be accessed by contacting the author.

Additional information

Funding

This study was not support by any grants. The author received a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship.