Cochlear Implant Habilitation During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Parents' Perspective

Abstract

Aim and Objectives: The current study was undertaken to assess the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on cochlear implant rehabilitation of children with congenital nonsyndromic bilateral severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The objectives were to find out the psychological impact of COVID-19 on parents of children with cochlear implant habilitation, to assess the performance of children with cochlear implant habilitation through teletherapy, and to analyze the problems faced by the parents to obtain the professional hearing health-care services for their cochlear implanted children. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire survey was conducted among the parents of children who had undergone cochlear implantation (CI) consequent to congenital severe-to-profound SNHL. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, these children were receiving regular auditory verbal therapy (AVT) including visits to the Centre for audiological services (mapping and troubleshooting of the speech processor). Results: The online questionnaire survey has undertaken. A total of 50 parents were participated in this study. All the parents are unanimously reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected them in the form of accessing the professional health-care services for regular mapping and troubleshooting of the speech processor and also their children's rehabilitation. However, active involvement between the health-care professionals and the parents through video consultation and tele AVT has definitely helped the children to a great extent. Conclusion: The present study emphasizes the great challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic for continued rehabilitation of CI children. The innovative digital media technology helps in addressing such medical issues through telemedicine, teleaudiology, and teletherapy.