Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening (UNHS) is a recent phenomenon in the Irish Health Care System. A pilot UNHS programme was introduced in Cork, Ireland in 2011, and is presently in the process of being implemented nationally in maternity hospitals across Ireland. This implementation was precipitated by the National Audiology Review Group Report (2011) which criticized the lack of early identification of hearing loss in Ireland as well as the lack of timely early intervention and adequate family support. This PhD research arose from this context and is specifically concerned with the imperative to support families.as UNHS is implemented across Ireland. Objectives of this Research:
Understand & conceptualize parents’ experiences of receiving and coping with an early diagnosis of hearing loss.
Apply results to care pathways in Ireland by making recommendations for improvement.
Methods
Philosophical Framework:
Post-Positivism / Critical Realism
Methodological Framework:
Straussian Grounded Theory
Emic, Inductive, and Qualitative Methodology
Research Completed to Date:
11 Semi-Structured Interviews with 12 Participants:
8 Parents; 4 Professionals
Average Interview lasted 1.5 hours
Research to Come:
3 Interviews with 3 Parents
Presentation of Research & Focus Group with Parents
Presentation of Research & Focus Group with Professionals
Questionnaire for Focus Group Participants