Exploring parental perspectives on the barriers and benefits of pediatric cochlear implantation: a cross-sectional study in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background: Parents of children with severe-to-profound hearing loss face various challenges that can hinder access to timely interventions. Previous literature has studied various factors affecting parental experiences with cochlear implantation, but research remains limited in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the challenges faced by parents of children who are candidates for cochlear implantation surgery or have already undergone the procedure and to assess children's quality of life (QoL) after cochlear implantation. Method: = 19). Participants were recruited from CI clinics in Jeddah and from online platforms across the country. Data were collected using two questionnaires: a structured tool titled Parental Barriers to Pediatric Cochlear Implantation, which was reviewed by an expert panel to assess perceived barriers, and the validated Arabic version of the 24-item Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory (GCBI) to evaluate post-implantation QoL. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized. Results: The results revealed that most parents expressed concerns about the surgical procedure (60.1%), including potential risks and outcomes. A substantial proportion reported concerns regarding post-implantation expenses such as the cost of device maintenance (49.6% strongly agreed) and rehabilitation sessions (48.8% strongly agreed). Additionally, 69.1% of the parents reported difficulties accessing rehabilitation services due to the lack of rehabilitation centers in their area. The GCBI questionnaire showed positive outcomes for children's overall QoL (88.1%). Significant improvements were observed in the functional, developmental, cognitive, and social-emotional domains of children's QoL, rather than in the health or medical need domains. Conclusion: Key parental barriers to pediatric cochlear implantation include financial concerns, limited access to rehabilitation, and post-surgical challenges. Despite this, parents reported positive outcomes, particularly in the functional, cognitive, and social-emotional domains.