Parents Decision Making Process After parents discover that
their child is deaf, they are faced with a very difficult decision;
to give their child a cochlear implant or not to give their child a
cochlear implant. Within this decision lies the choice a parent
must make for their childs future. Grieving Stressed
Overwhelmed
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Parents Decision Making Process Research has shown that
implantation at a younger age indicated that the child performed
better than a child who was implanted later in life while other
research has proven that implantation may not always be beneficial.
Younger is Better!
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Parents Decision Making Process The main reason parents decide
against cochlear implantation is that there is no guarantee about
the level of benefit their children will receive from having the
implant.
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Parents Decision Making Process There is no guarantee from any
doctor, therapist, or any other health care professional that will
assure 100% success. Parents dont want their son or daughter to
lose their Deaf identity, and parents worry, that in the future,
their child may not fully embrace and appreciate the cochlear
implants.
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Parents Decision Making Process Though infrequent,
complications may occur from cochlear implant surgery. Such
problems include facial nerve paralysis, vestibular problems, and
infections. There are also possibilities of postsurgical
complications such as meningitis. Medical Risks: Facial Nerve
Paralysis Vestibular Problems Infections Postsurgical
Complications- Meningitis
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Parents Decision Making Process These risks are enough to help
parents decide against cochlear implants especially when the
surgery is performed on such small infants. Medical Risks: Facial
Nerve Paralysis Vestibular Problems Infections Postsurgical
Complications- Meningitis