Early hearing detection and intervention in South Africa: Exploring factors compromising service delivery as expressed by caregivers.

AIM

The main aim of this study was to explore factors compromising early intervention (EI) service delivery to hearing impaired children in South Africa, as expressed by their caregivers.

METHODS

Within a qualitative survey design, a sample of 19 hearing impaired children's caregivers completed structured self-administered questionnaires on factors that they perceive compromise EI for their children. These caregivers included mothers, fathers, grandparents, and legal guardians or adoptive parents of children with hearing impairment. Descriptive analysis of the data was undertaken.

RESULTS

Findings indicated various factors compromising EI as reported by caregivers. These included limited availability of appropriate schools and health care facilities for their hearing impaired children; long distances between the few services that are available and the places of residence of the service users; significant costs linked to the services (such as medical expenses, boarding school facilities costs); limited skills and knowledge of professionals and teachers regarding hearing impairment; inconsistent and conflicting professional opinions about the child's diagnosis and treatment; as well as limited community awareness about hearing impairment along with services available for hearing impaired children.

CONCLUSION

These findings have important clinical, training, policy, and advocacy implications within the South African context; if both access to and success within the EI services will be successful.