Parent reported barriers and facilitators towards cochlear implantation - A systematic review

Context: Early identification and intervention of hearing loss at a young age leads to long term benefits from language, communication, social, educational and financial aspects. Cochlear implantation is a widely recommended rehabilitation option for hearing loss. The process of cochlear implantation is a long one and the role played by parents is crucial. Objective: The present systematic review was carried out with the aim of identifying the different parent reported barriers towards cochlear implantation. Data sources: PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus and Cochrane Library. Study selection: Studies in parent reported barriers towards cochlear implantation screened and identified using 3 stages by 2 reviewers. Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to carry out the quality appraisal of included studies. Data extraction: Outcome measures related to barriers and facilitators. Results: Nineteen studies were identified and included in the present review which discussed the parent reported barriers based on themes such as service delivery, social issues, time related, device/surgery, financial, child related and others. The different factors that facilitated the process included availability of resources, finances, child related and parental. Conclusion: The present review was a novel attempt at exploring the different parent reported barriers towards cochlear implantation. The facilitators, which can be used to overcome these barriers, will be useful for making the process smoother.