Parent challenges, perspectives and experiences caring for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing with other disabilities: a comprehensive review

ABSTRACT

Objective: The purpose of this literature review was to explore parent challenges in caring for children who are deaf or hard of hearing with other disabilities and discuss implications for audiologists related to supporting families.

Design: A comprehensive literature review was conducted, and through qualitative analysis, emergent themes were identified, and a narrative summary generated.

Study sample: Nine research studies were included in this review. Combined, these studies reflect a sample of 111 children, 23 families and 41 parents.

Results: Three broad themes were identified, and include parent-reported challenges related to family, professional and child variables. Sub-themes were identified within each broad theme to further describe parent experiences, such as challenges related to decision-making and planning, interprofessional collaboration, and child communication and behaviours.

Conclusions: Parents of children with hearing loss and additional disabilities face unique challenges related to family, professional and child variables that could impact how they manage their child’s hearing care.

KEYWORDS:

• Paediatric
• additional disabilities
• parent challenges
• review

Acknowledgements

There are no acknowledgements to be made.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest.