Stress in Parents of School-Age Children and Adolescents with Cochlear Implants

Abstract

Parents of children with cochlear implants (CIs) face unique challenges in caring for their child, potentially fostering parental stress. Most studies of stress in parents of CI users do not examine stress specific to having a deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) child. This study compares general and condition-specific stress (via the Family Stress Scale) in 31 parents of CI users (8-16 years) to previously published samples of DHH children, and it examines child- and CI-related factors associated with parental stress. Parents of modern-day CI users reported significantly lower stress than parents of children using older-generation CI technology and similar levels of overall stress to parents of young children preimplantation. However, significant item-level differences emerged (e.g., communication, device management) pre- versus postimplant. Child temperament significantly predicted parental stress after controlling for other variables. Intervention strategies for children with CIs should engage a family systems approach to reduce parental stress and better support the child.