Accessing hearing‐health services for deaf and hard‐of‐hearing children during the Covid ‐19 pandemic

Parent and child perspectives

Bibliographic Data

ID11228638
AuthorsAhmed Mardinli (0000-0002-8430-0873, Department of Paediatrics The University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia), Rona Weerasuriya (Department of Paediatrics The University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia), Alanna Gillespie (Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Prevention Innovation Population Health Melbourne Victoria Australia), Alanna N Gillespie (0000-0003-4544-1830, Murdoch Children's Research Institute), Libby Smith (Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Prevention Innovation Population Health Melbourne Victoria Australia), Libby J Smith (0009-0004-1241-8970, Murdoch Children's Research Institute), Valerie Sung (0000-0003-2029-6331, Department of Paediatrics The University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume58
Issue1
Pages232-258
Publication date2023-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAustralian Journal of Social Issues (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0157-6321 • E-ISSN: 1839-4655
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajs4.231
PMID36247403
OpenAlexW4291164132
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited32

To describe hearing‐health service use, especially use of telehealth, during the early stages of the COVID‐19 pandemic in deaf/hard‐of‐hearing children. In 2020, the Victorian Childhood Hearing Longitudinal Databank surveyed 497 (61.6%) families of deaf/hard‐of‐hearing children aged 0.4–19.6 years, with 449 (90.3%) providing quantitative data and 336 (67.6%) providing free‐text comments about COVID‐19's impact on service use and access. We summarised quantitative data using descriptive statistics and analysed free‐text responses using inductive and deductive reasoning. Of the 1152 services families used during the pandemic, 711 (62%) were accessed via telehealth. Parents reported several challenges and facilitators of service access during the pandemic, particularly regarding telehealth. Parents reported that their child found telehealth appointments more difficult (347/665, 52.1%) and of worse quality (363/649, 55.9%) compared to in‐person. These difficulties were more evident in pre‐school than school‐age children. Consideration of these factors when implementing telehealth practice beyond the pandemic would improve family experiences, ensuring quality of care

Audiology · Business · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Descriptive statistics · Disease · Family medicine · Health care · Hearing aid · Pandemic · Political science · Service (business · Telehealth · Telemedicine · Hearing Impairment and Communication · Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation · Medicine · Psychology · Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation

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