Support provided by the parent-to-parent support group to parents of children with cochlear implants and candidates in Malaysia: a qualitative study.

Purpose: The present study aimed to explore the support provided by the parent-to-parent support group (PPSG) to families whose children are cochlear implant (CI) users or candidates during each stage of the intervention procedure.

Method and materials: The present study conducted semi-structured interviews to explore the helpfulness and supportiveness of the support provided by experienced parents to parents in the PPSG. Sixteen parents of children with CI and candidates (ages 11-90 months) agreed to participate in this study. After sharing their experiences, parents rated the PPSG's helpfulness and supportiveness on a five-point scale.

Results: The study identified three main themes that emerged from parents' experiences who received support from experienced parents in the PPSG throughout their CI intervention journey. These themes included (a) informational - providing informational support to newly diagnosed families; (b) psychological - providing emotional support; and (c) social - forming a sense of belonging to the community. Additionally, each theme generated several sub-themes that focused on the feelings and experiences of parents during their journey through CI intervention.

Conclusion: The findings support the PPSG as a helpful and supportive resource for parents whose children are CI users or candidates throughout their intervention journey.