Pediatrics (P)
Charia Hall, AuD, CCC-A
Clinical Education Director and Assistant Professor
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas, United States
Sarah J. Allen, AuD, PhD, CCC-A
Audiologist
Virginia Mason Medical Center
Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States
This study examined parent perceptions of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on their child's hearing care services. An online survey was distributed to parents with children who receive services from audiologists. Survey questions highlighted the following areas: demographics, type of hearing provider seen, access to telehealth, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on appointments with their hearing provider(s), the parents' perceptions of telehealth vs. in-person visits, and parents' perceptions on how these changes have impacted their child. Results will help hearing healthcare providers understand what is needed for a successful shift in service.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused economic, financial, and medical impacts across the globe. Businesses, including healthcare offices, were forced to close or reduce the number of patients they were seeing in an effort to slow the spread. As a result of these closures and reductions in services, access to care was impacted for individuals across the lifespan, including those patients and families who needed hearing care. Families have stated a desire for education that is comprehensive, individualized, and high quality (Bernstein & Barta, 1988). A delay in receiving these services can lead to persistent communication problems,poorer language outcomes, and poor school readiness (Roberts & Kaiser, 2015; Ching, 2015).
This study aimed to examine parent perceptions of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on their child's hearing care services.
An online survey was distributed to parents with children who receive services from audiologists and/or teachers of the deaf. Questions highlighted the following topic areas: demographics, type of hearing provider seen, access to telehealth, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on appointments with their hearing provider(s), the parents' perceptions on how these changes have impacted their child.
Results will show how parents perceived the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on their child's hearing care. With the knowledge from this survey, hearing providers will better understand the challenges parents have faced in seeking care for their child who receives care from hearing providers. By gaining insight into how the parents of these children perceive the care has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic hearing providers will be better able to help all stakeholders in this care understand what is needed for the child to be successful after this shift in service due to the COVID-19 pandemic.