(1024) Parents' perceptions of pediatric cochlear implantation wear-time in a single institution pediatric cohort

Introduction: Cochlear implantation improves auditory perception and speech intelligibility for children with profound sensorineural hearing loss, but consistent device use is crucial. CI manufacturers provide objective reports of hourly device use via datalogging. This study explores parents’ perceptions of their child’s CI wear time and its correlation with datalogging data.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey (multiple choice and open ended question) was completed by parents of children implanted at UC Davis (2019-2024), had at least 3 follow ups with audiology, and 2 data log entries.

Results: 55 patients met inclusion criteria and 45 parents answered the survey. Error was defined as parent reported hours - datalog hours. Mean absolute error in parent reported hours was 2h/day with median error being +1.0 h/day. Parent-reported daily CI use was most inaccurate at low objective wear time ( < 4 h/day, MAE 3.26 h). Agreement improved at longer wear times (8+ h/day, MAE 1.72 h). Longer wear time was associated with tactics like routine (r = 0.661, p <.05) and internal motivation (r = 0.568, p <.05). Shorter wear time associated with tactics like bribing (r = -0.466, p =0.001) and retention aids (r = -0.300, p< 0.05).

Conclusions: Datalogging provides anticipatory guidance for MDs and audiologists when discussing CI in pediatric patients. Inconsistencies between perceived and logged hours may motivate parents to work more consistently with their children to enhance device retention. Parents tend to overestimate the hours their children wear the CI. This could impact the child’s comprehension and CI efficacy. Parent-reported daily CI use was most inaccurate at low objective wear time ( < 4 h/day), and became more reliable as datalogged use increased. Longer wear time is associated with tactics like routine and internal motivation, as opposed to rewards, bribery, and equipment aids. Datalogging can provide objective data to encourage consistent device use. Further data collection is needed to validate datalogging as a tool to motivate or confirm parental support for their children’s CI needs.