Evaluating the Cochlear Implant Competence of Caregivers, Educators, and Speech-Language Service Providers With the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Skills Review.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to adapt the Cochlear Implant Skills Review to assess the real-time demonstration of skills and device knowledge of the adults who care for their child's, client's, or student's cochlear implant (CI). This study also sought to assess inter- and intrarater reliability of the newly adapted Pediatric Cochlear Implant Skills Review (Ped-CISR) and provide evidence for its construct validity by assessing group performance differences.

METHOD: The Ped-CISR was administered to (a) caregivers of new pediatric CI recipients (less than 1 year of device use), (b) caregivers of experienced pediatric CI recipients (greater than 1 year of device use), (c) educators of the deaf and hard of hearing, and (d) speech-language service providers working in an educational or hospital setting. Participant skills and knowledge were scored by three independent raters. One rater rewatched and rescored each session at least 4 weeks following initial review. Inter- and intrarater reliability and agreement were assessed for all raters, and between-groups differences were analyzed.

RESULTS

Reliability across all raters was high with an intraclass correlation coefficient of .801, 95% confidence interval [.785, .817]. There were no significant between-groups differences on the total score of the Ped-CISR; however, participant groups demonstrated significantly different knowledge and skills in the Battery and Indicator Light subcategories.

CONCLUSION

The Ped-CISR is a valuable clinical tool to help identify deficits in knowledge and skills of caregivers, educators, and speech-language service providers of children who use CIs.