In summary, this study contributes to the growing evidence base in pediatric hearing health care privileging the
consumers’ voice—families of children with hearing loss. Our study adds to the understanding of parents’ perceptions
of their needs in parenting and developing oral communication skills in their young children who have permanent
hearing loss. By virtue of its intensive and long-term nature, service provision for young children with hearing loss involves a social contract with families that must be recognized and given priority. Parents want to be recognized as active
partners in providing the optimal system of care for their child. These finding support the need to include parents in
decision making about designing programs. Early detection through population screening alone may not be sufficient to
improve outcomes unless practices are in place to support and guide parents in facilitating their child’s language development. Further understanding of parents’ needs may improve the delivery of childhood hearing services and maximize the investment in newborn hearing screening.