The Impact of COVID-19 on the Amplification, Education, and Communication of Children with Hearing Loss: Parental Views

Year 2024, Volume: 11 Issue: 3, 872 - 886

İclal Şan , Ayşenur Aykul Yağcıoğlu , Hatice Kavruk

https://doi.org/10.21020/husbfd.1349433

Abstract

Objectives: The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are evident in many areas, such as health, social life, economic conditions, and education. However, there is no study found in which the opinions of parents with hearing-impaired children were sought on amplification, education, and communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on amplification, aural rehabilitation, school education, and communication of children with hearing loss in Türkiye from the perspectives of parents.
Materials and Methods: The study sample consists of 135 parents between ages 18 to 65 with a child using a hearing aid and/or hearing implant. The data was collected utilizing an online form.
Results: Results indicated that problems related to school education, device use, device repair, and aural rehabilitation of their children, reported by parents before the COVID-19 pandemic, had increased during the pandemic. In addition, the needs in the fields of economic, social, and psychological support, regulation of legal rights, family education, and family counseling services regarding the hearing aid/ hearing implant and aural rehabilitation, which were determined before the pandemic, continued during the pandemic.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has limited the diagnosis, follow-up, and rehabilitation processes of children with hearing loss. These results reveal the need for the application of innovative communication and teaching methods, such as tele-audiology, to meet the needs of children with hearing loss.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic, hearing loss, communication, education, hearing aid

References

• Alqudah, S., Zaitoun, M., Alqudah, O., Alqudah, S., & Alqudah, Z. (2021). Challenges facing users of hearing aids during the COVID-19 pandemic. International journal of audiology, 60(10), 747–753. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2021.1872806
• Aschendorff, A., Arndt, S., Kröger, S., Wesarg, T., Ketterer, M. C., Kirchem, P., Pixner, S., Hassepaß, F., & Beck, R. (2021). Quality of cochlear implant rehabilitation under COVID-19 conditions. Qualität der Cochleaimplantat-Rehabilitation unter COVID-19-Bedingungen. Englische Version. HNO, 69(Suppl 1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00106-020-00923-z
• Atcherson, S. R., Mendel, L. L., Baltimore, W. J., Patro, C., Lee, S., Pousson, M., & Spann, M. J. (2017). The Effect of Conventional and Transparent Surgical Masks on Speech Understanding in Individuals with and without Hearing Loss. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 28(1), 58–67. https://doi.org/10.3766/jaaa.15151
• Ayas, M., Ali Al Amadi, A. M. H., Khaled, D., & Alwaa, A. M. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on the access to hearing health care services for children with cochlear implants: a survey of parents. F1000Research, 9, 690. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.24915.1
• Baldwin, R., & Tomiura, E. (2020). Thinking ahead about the trade impact of COVID-19, economics in the time of COVID-19. In R. Baldwin & B.W. di Mauro (Eds.), Center for Economic Policy Research (pp. 59-73). CEPR Press.
• Boss, E. F., Niparko, J. K., Gaskin, D. J., & Levinson, K. L. (2011). Socioeconomic disparities for hearing-impaired children in the United States. The Laryngoscope, 121(4), 860–866. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.21460
• Carney, A. E., & Moeller, M. P. (1998). Treatment efficacy: hearing loss in children. Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR, 41(1), S61–S84. https://doi.org/10.1044/jslhr.4101.s61
• Charney, S. A., Camarata, S. M., & Chern, A. (2021). Potential Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Communication and Language Skills in Children. Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 165(1), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599820978247
• Coco, L., Davidson, A., & Marrone, N. (2020). The Role of Patient-Site Facilitators in Teleaudiology: A Scoping Review. American journal of audiology, 29(3S), 661–675. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_AJA-19-00070
• Corner, C. (2021).‘Quieting’ During COVID-19 Lockdown Impacts Kids with Cochlear Implants. The Hearing Journal, 74(5), 40.
• Davidson, A. J., & Marrone, N. L. (2020). A Clinically Valuable Interaction in the Midst of COVID-19 and Beyond: A Viewpoint on the Importance of Patient-Centered Outcomes in Rehabilitative Audiology. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 5, 940-945. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_PERSP-20-00102
• Doğan, M. (2010). Comparison of the Parents of Children with and without Hearing Loss in Terms of Stress, Depression, and Trait Anxiety. INT-JECSE, 2(3), 231-246. https://doi.org/10.20489/intjecse.107972
• Gravel, J. S., & O'Gara, J. (2003). Communication options for children with hearing loss. Mental retardation and developmental disabilities research reviews, 9(4), 243–251. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrdd.10087
• Hogan, A., Shipley, M., Strazdins, L., Purcell, A., & Baker, E. (2011). Communication and behavioural disorders among children with hearing loss increases risk of mental health disorders. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 35(4), 377–383. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2011.00744.x
• Holt, R. F., Beer, J., Kronenberger, W. G., Pisoni, D. B., Lalonde, K., & Mulinaro, L. (2020). Family Environment in Children With Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants: Associations With Spoken Language, Psychosocial Functioning, and Cognitive Development. Ear and hearing, 41(4), 762–774. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000811
• Homans, N. C., & Vroegop, J. L. (2021). Impact of face masks in public spaces during COVID-19 pandemic on daily life communication of cochlear implant users. Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology, 6(3), 531–539. https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.578
• Jackson, C. W., Traub, R. J., & Turnbull, A. P. (2008). Parents’ Experiences With Childhood Deafness: Implications for Family-Centered Services. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 29(2), 82–98. https://doi.org/10.1177/15257401083148
• Joint statement by ILO, FAO, IFAD and WHO (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on people's livelihoods, their health and our food systems. https://www.who.int/news/item/13-10-2020-impact-of-covid-19-on-people's-livelihoods-their-health-and-our-food-systems#:~:text=The%20economic%20and%20social%20disruption,the%20end%20of%20the%20year.
• Kenna M. A. (2015). Acquired Hearing Loss in Children. Otolaryngologic clinics of North America, 48(6), 933–953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otc.2015.07.011
• Kurt, A., & Kurtoğlu Erden, M. (2020). Individuals with Special Needs in The Coronavirus Disease 2019. Millî Eğitim, 49(1), 1105-1119. https://doi.org/10.37669/milliegitim.787606
• Marnane, V., & Ching, T. Y. (2015). Hearing aid and cochlear implant use in children with hearing loss at three years of age: Predictors of use and predictors of changes in use. International journal of audiology, 54(8), 544–551. https://doi.org/10.3109/14992027.2015.1017660
• McCreery, R. W., Walker, E. A., Spratford, M., Oleson, J., Bentler, R., Holte, L., & Roush, P. (2015). Speech Recognition and Parent Ratings From Auditory Development Questionnaires in Children Who Are Hard of Hearing. Ear and hearing, 36Suppl 1(0 1), 60S–75S. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000213
• Mengi, A., & Alpdoğan, Y. (2020). Investigation of Teacher’s Opinions About Distance Education Processes of Students Who Receive Special Education During The Covid-19 Pandemic Period. Millî Eğitim, 49(1), 413-437. https://doi.org/10.37669/milliegitim.776226
• Mheidly, N., Fares, M. Y., Zalzale, H., & Fares, J. (2020). Effect of Face Masks on Interpersonal Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in public health, 8, 582191. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.582191
• Moeller, M. P., & Tomblin, J. B. (2015). An Introduction to the Outcomes of Children with Hearing Loss Study. Ear and hearing, 36 Suppl 1(0 1), 4S–13S. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000210.
• Moeller, M. P., Carr, G., Seaver, L., Stredler-Brown, A., & Holzinger, D. (2013). Best practices in family-centered early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing: an international consensus statement. Journal of deaf studies and deaf education, 18(4), 429–445. https://doi.org/10.1093/deafed/ent034
• Muñoz, K., Nagaraj, N. K., & Nichols, N. (2021). Applied tele-audiology research in clinical practice during the past decade: a scoping review. International Journal of Audiology, 60(sup1), S4–S12. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2020.1817994
• Nieman, C. L., & Oh, E. S. (2020). Hearing Loss. Annals of internal medicine, 173(11), ITC81–ITC96. https://doi.org/10.7326/AITC202012010
• Rhoades, E. A. (2017). Toward Family-Centered Practice. In Rhoades, E. A & Duncan, J. (Eds.), Auditory-Verbal Practice: Family-Centered Early Intervention. Charles C Thomas Publisher.
• Kumari, A., Sahoo, L., Patnaik, U., & Dwivedi, G. (2021). Cochlear Implant Rehabilitation During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Parents’ Perspective. Indian Journal of Otology, 27(4), 213-216. doi: 10.4103/indianjotol.indianjotol_232_20
• Sass-Lehrer, M. (2004). Early Detection of Hearing Loss: Maintaining a Family-Centered Perspective. Seminars in Hearing, 25(04), 295–307. doi: 10.1055/s-2004-836132
• Saunders, G. H., & Roughley, A. (2021). Audiology in the time of COVID-19: practices and opinions of audiologists in the UK. International Journal of Audiology, 60(4), 255–262. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2020.1814432
• Saunders, G. H., Jackson, I. R., & Visram, A. S. (2021). Impacts of face coverings on communication: an indirect impact of COVID-19. International Journal of Audiology, 60(7), 495–506. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2020.1851401
• Spahn, C., Richter, B., Burger, T., Löhle, E., & Wirsching, M. (2003). A comparison between parents of children with cochlear implants and parents of children with hearing aids regarding parental distress and treatment expectations. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 67(9), 947–955. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-5876(03)00160-5
• Tang, D., Comish, P., & Kang, R. (2020). The hallmarks of COVID-19 disease. PLoS pathogens, 16(5), e1008536. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1008536
• Ten Hulzen, R. D., & Fabry, D. A. (2020). Impact of Hearing Loss and Universal Face Masking in the COVID-19 Era. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 95(10), 2069–2072. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.07.027
• Thibodeau, L. M., Thibodeau-Nielsen, R. B., Tran, C. M. Q., & Jacob, R. T. S. (2021). Communicating During COVID-19: The Effect of Transparent Masks for Speech Recognition in Noise. Ear and hearing, 42(4), 772–781. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000001065
• Tohidast, S. A., Mansuri, B., Bagheri, R., & Azimi, H. (2020). Provision of speech-language pathology services for the treatment of speech and language disorders in children during the COVID-19 pandemic: Problems, concerns, and solutions. International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology, 138, 110262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2020.110262
• Tomblin, J. B., Harrison, M., Ambrose, S. E., Walker, E. A., Oleson, J. J., & Moeller, M. P. (2015). Language Outcomes in Young Children with Mild to Severe Hearing Loss. Ear and hearing, 36 Suppl 1(0 1), 76S–91S. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000219
• Tomblin, J. B., Oleson, J., Ambrose, S. E., Walker, E. A., McCreery, R. W., & Moeller, M. P. (2020). Aided Hearing Moderates the Academic Outcomes of Children With Mild to Severe Hearing Loss. Ear and hearing, 41(4), 775–789. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000823.
• UNICEF (2020). Education and COVID-19. https://data.unicef.org/topic/education/covid-19/.
• World Health Organization (WHO) (2020). WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19. https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020.
• Yoshinaga-Itano, C. (2020). Challenges to EHDI Systems Amid the COVID-19 Crisis. The Hearing Journal, 73(5), 43. doi: 10.1097/01.HJ.0000666452.15264.95
• Yucel, E., Derim, D., & Celik, D. (2008). The needs of hearing impaired children's parents who attend to auditory verbal therapy-counseling program. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 72(7), 1097–1111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2008.03.020
• Zaidman-Zait, A., & Most, T. (2005). Cochlear implants in children with hearing loss: Maternal expectations and ımpact on the family. The Volta Review, 105(2), 129-15.