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

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

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