ASSESSING THE PARENTS' EXPERIENCE REGARDING THE DIAGNOSIS PROCESS OF COCHLEAR IMPLANT TECHNOLOGY FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA

This study examined parents’ experiences of the diagnostic process leading to cochlear implantation for their children in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, the study employed a descriptive research design to explore how family, healthcare, and societal systems shape parental experiences. The target population comprised 100 parents of children undergoing speech therapy services, selected through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observation checklists, and analyzed using both descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. Findings indicated that parental suspicion of hearing loss most frequently emerged between ages 1 and 2 years (50.6%), followed by ages 2 to 3 years (35.6%). Only 11.5% of parents identified concerns within the first year of life, suggesting gaps in early detection. Although cochlear implantation was perceived to improve children’s quality of life, parents reported significant challenges during the diagnostic and implantation process, including delays in professional diagnosis, financial constraints, and societal stigma. The findings underscore the need for strengthened early hearing detection and intervention programs, routine screening services, and coordinated post-operative rehabilitation systems to improve parental experiences and optimize developmental outcomes for children with cochlear implants.

 

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