Objectives: Over the last 20 years, the availability of cochlear implantation has resulted in a pediatric population with different health needs than adults who receive cochlear implants (CIs). These pediatric patients are now transitioning to adult hospital settings in significant numbers. This issue of transition is not unique to cochlear implant services: research in other chronic health conditions has documented a variety of challenges for youth and health care providers. The objectives of this study were to identify factors important in the transition from pediatric to adult CI services from the perspective of service providers and to make recommendations to improve transition practices in the future.
Methods: Focus groups were conducted with professionals providing specialized CI services in pediatric and adult hospitals, and specialized educators in the school setting. Qualitative research methodology was used to identify key themes. Data extracted from patient files allowed comparison of pediatric and adult CI recipients.
Results: Youth who had received CIs in the pediatric setting differed from other adult patients in the incidence of prelingual hearing losses, and age at CI surgery. Key focus group themes were related to service delivery models, communication between settings, and skills needed by the patients to effectively meet their own health needs.
Discussion: Factors identified by CI professionals were very similar to those identified in research for other health conditions. From the focus groups, as well as other literature, a number of recommendations are proposed to facilitate a positive transition of young people to adult health care.