Mild matters: parental insights into the conundrums of managing mild congenital hearing loss

Abstract

Objective

To explore and describe parental experiences related to the management of mild bilateral congenital hearing loss in children.

Design

Using qualitative methods, we conducted semi-structured interviews with parents/caregivers until saturation of themes was achieved. We analysed transcripts using inductive content analysis.

Study sample

Caregivers of children under 3-years-old with mild bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

Results

We interviewed 12 parents. Parental perception of advice regarding hearing aid fitting was varied; almost all children were offered hearing aids. Perceived positives related to hearing aids: feeling empowered that action has been taken; improvements in the child’s hearing perception and; facilitation of behavioural management. Perceived negatives of hearing aid use: difficulties with compliance resulting in parental frustration and guilt, damage/loss of equipment, discomfort, parental discord, altered quality of natural sound and potential bullying/stigma. Some parents were ambivalent about the effect of the hearing aids. Where hearing aids were offered and not fitted, there was significant ongoing uncertainty, and the family carried the burden of their decision.

Conclusions

There was a wide variation in perceived advice regarding early hearing aid fitting in children with mild bilateral hearing loss. We identified parental perceptions of positive/negative impacts of hearing aid fitting and potential perceived harms from not fitting.

Keywords:

• Hearing loss
• hard of hearing
• mild
• hearing aids
• parent experience
• child

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participating families.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Population Health Theme Funding. Research at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute is supported by the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program. The researchers were independent of the funders. VS was supported by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Fellowship [1125687], a Melbourne Children’s Clinician Scientist Fellowship and a L’Oréal-UNESCO Australian & New Zealand For Women in Science Fellowship 2019. PC was supported by NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Child Language 1023493.