From Diagnosis to Dialogue: Audiologists' Insights on Communicating the Diagnosis of Permanent Childhood Hearing Loss to Parents.

Purpose: The current study explored audiologists' experiences and related insights when communicating the audiological findings to parents of children diagnosed with permanent hearing loss. Method: Purposive and snowball sampling approaches were used. The sample comprised 11 qualified audiologists with experience in pediatric audiology. Participants were recruited via professional associations and social media platforms. Semistructured interviews were conducted online and audio-recorded. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data and generate themes. Results: The results of this study revealed the need to tailor feedback to parental needs and the need to share information over multiple sessions. The main challenges that audiologists were faced with during this process were managing the emotional responses of parents and the linguistic barriers. Family-centered approaches, transparency, a team approach, continuity of care, and reflection facilitated the navigation of these challenges. Conclusions: The results of this study emphasize the importance of information provision, as well as emotional support and tailored communication, ensuring alignment with family-centered care practices in pediatric audiology. Experience and reflection provide opportunity for growth and development of effective communication practices when having to deliver bad news. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]