Support provided by the parent-to-parent support group to parents of children with cochlear implants and candidates in Malaysia: a qualitative study.

Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the support provided by the parent-to-parent support group (PPSG) to families whose children are cochlear implant (CI) users or candidates during each stage of the intervention procedure. The present study conducted semi-structured interviews to explore the helpfulness and supportiveness of the support provided by experienced parents to parents in the PPSG. Sixteen parents of children with CI and candidates (ages 11-90 months) agreed to participate in this study. After sharing their experiences, parents rated the PPSG's helpfulness and supportiveness on a five-point scale. The study identified three main themes that emerged from parents' experiences who received support from experienced parents in the PPSG throughout their CI intervention journey. These themes included (a) informational - providing informational support to newly diagnosed families; (b) psychological - providing emotional support; and (c) social - forming a sense of belonging to the community. Additionally, each theme generated several sub-themes that focused on the feelings and experiences of parents during their journey through CI intervention. The findings support the PPSG as a helpful and supportive resource for parents whose children are CI users or candidates throughout their intervention journey.