Entre o silêncio e as novas possibilidades: expectativas da família quanto ao uso do implante coclear em crianças e adolescentes

Abstract

Introduction: Individuals with hearing loss may benefit from the use of Hearing Aids (HA). Those who do not benefit from this treatment option, however, may be candidates for Cochlear Implant (CI) use. The success of the surgical intervention leads to significant advances in the development of auditory, speech, and language skills, which depend on several factors, including the expectations of the user and/or their family. Objective: To understand family expectations related to CI use in children and adolescents and to enable their assessment in the Brazilian context. Methods:The study was divided into two stages, which comprised: (1) a systematic literature review with meta-analysis, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews guidelines; and (2) translation into Brazilian Portuguese of the instrument “Parent Expectations Questionnaire for Cochlear Implant.” Results: Approximately 55% of family members reported high expectations for exclusive oral communication, and 39% believed their children would understand speech without lip-reading. Around 38% expected enrollment in mainstream schools, although only 14% strongly agreed that their children would keep up with hearing peers. Between 48% and 54% expressed high expectations regarding socialization in different contexts, and about 45% expected good device performance, with wide variability across studies. The meta-analysis suggested a significant increase in expectations after CI activation. The instrument “Parent Expectations Questionnaire for Cochlear Implant” was translated, and discrepancies were resolved by and expert committee. Conclusion: Family expectations regarding the benefits of CI are generally high but vary across domains, being more optimistic for oral communication and socialization, and more cautious regarding full school inclusion. The instrument “Parent Expectations Questionnaire for Cochlear Implant” was translated into Brazilian Portuguese, resulting in the “Questionário de Expectativas dos Pais com Relação ao uso do Implante Coclear”.