Benefits of auditory-verbal intervention for adult cochlear implant users: perspectives of users and their coaches

Abstract

Objective

Post-implant rehabilitation is limited for adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients. The objective of this research was to capture the perspectives of CI users and their coaches regarding their experiences with auditory-verbal intervention as an example of post-implant rehabilitation and their views on perceived benefits and challenges related to the intervention.

Design

This qualitative study involved semi-structured focus group interviews with adult CI users and their coaches who accompanied them in a 24-week auditory-verbal intervention program.

Study sample

A total of 17 participants (eight CI users and nine coaches) contributed to the interviews.

Results

Three key topic areas emerged from the interviews capturing CI users’ and coaches’ experiences related to the intervention program: (1) benefits of the intervention, (2) factors affecting experiences, and (3) challenges and barriers. Benefits included increased confidence in hearing, communication, social participation, and new knowledge about technology and hearing. Factors affecting the experience were participants’ motivation and the therapist’s skills. The primary challenge was the time commitment for weekly therapy.

Conclusions

Both CI users and coaches perceived a focussed auditory-verbal intervention to be beneficial in improving speech understanding, confidence in using hearing, social interaction, and knowledge about technology. Participants recommended reducing the intensity of intervention to facilitate participation.

Keywords:

• Cochlear implants
• adults
• benefits
• auditory-verbal therapy
• qualitative

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the participants who contributed to this research and the audiologists at The Ottawa Hospital Cochlear Implant Program. We thank Michelle Olmstead for her work on the interview transcriptions.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare related to this project.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded through a grant from The Ottawa Hospital Foundation created as a result of a donation from a CI recipient. This component of the project was supplemented by funding through a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Grant to E. Fitzpatrick.