Taking an Interpretive Narrative Approach to Explore the Identities of Hearing Parents who Chose Cochlear Implantation for Their Children with Hearing Loss

• In Event: HIGH-DENSITY: Communicating in and About Families

Abstract

We aimed to determine the types of identities hearing parents construct when telling online stories about the decision to choose cochlear implantation for their children with hearing loss (HL). We employed a qualitative design and sampled 20 different blogs written by parents of children who use cochlear implants (CIs). Based on the adapted procedures for thematic analysis, we assigned one identity to each blogger. Four identities emerged in the parents’ stories: 1) advocates, 2) resilient parents, 3) obedient worriers, and 4) matter-of-fact narrators. Identifying and understanding these parent identities is a first step toward improving clinicians’ abilities to help families seek out, implement, and follow-through with family-centered hearing healthcare.

Authors

• Kristina M. Scharp, The University of Washington

• Brittan Barker, Utah State U

• Sidney Rucker, Utah State U

• Hannah Jones, Utah State U