Exploring the experiences of teenagers with cochlear implants

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Exploring the experiences of teenagers with
cochlear implants

• Supervisors Prof Mark Lutman, Dr Helen Elsey
  (Research Design Service, Southampton University)
• Victoria Watson
• Teaching Fellow/ Clinical Scientist in Audiology
• HABC

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Teenagers and cochlear implants

• First paediatric CI in 1989 (UK)
• Over 2,700 children implanted since
• Approx 60 teenagers now seen at SOECIC

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Why are we interested in this age group?

• A challenging time!
• Professionals (clinicians and educators) and
  parents would like to understand more about this
  group
• Limited support currently available

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Literature review

• Speech and language outcomes
• Attitudes towards implants
• Psychosocial correlates
• Education
• Problems small samples, inappropriate
  measurement scales, controlled environments,
  communication difficulties

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Key paper

• Wheeler et al (2007)
• Semi-structured interviews with 29 young people
  (13-16yrs)
• Main themes using and understanding the
  implant, choosing to have an implant,
  communication, identity, education, advice to
  others
• Feel positive towards implant and decisions made
  on their behalf by their parents
• No fixed identity
• No fixed communication mode

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Key paper (cont.)

• Criticisms
• Key prompts chosen by researcher and other
  professionals
• Some participants didnt understand wording
• Closed questions used e.g. do you see yourself
  as deaf or hearing?

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Why am I doing this research?

• Previous research into experience limited to
  children and adults
• Research involving parents of children with CI
  resulted in more valid data (ONeill et al 2004)
• There is a need to explore everyday lives of
  teens (family, home, school) (Toutenhoofd et al
  2005)
• Studies generally lack insider perspective

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Research aim and objectives

• Aim to gain a deeper and broader insight into
  young peoples experiences of using a cochlear
  implant
• Objectives
• to facilitate a group of young people with
  cochlear implants to develop a website
• to enable young people with cochlear implants to
  share their experiences about using a cochlear
  implant, via a website
• to analyse the young peoples experiences of
  using a cochlear implant
• to measure the change in support as a result of
  using the website
• to learn about the experiences of the young
  co-researchers
• to share the experiences and findings with young
  people with cochlear implants and professionals
  in the field

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What is action research?

• In a nutshell.
• Using research to change practice
• Popular in education, health care knowledge
  easily transferred into practice (DoH
  initiatives)
• Research done with participants, rather than on
  them
• A spiral of steps planning, acting,
  observing/evaluating, reflecting
• Draws on quantitative and/or qualitative methods

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Why am I using it?

• Broad question, flexible approach
• Young people can be difficult to engage with
• Need for support
• A novel approach to this area!

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Where I am now

• About to submit form to NRES
• Lit review and methodology drafts
• Consulted with teenagers regarding design of
  website
• Plan to recruit co-researchers later this year

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Thanks for listening!