The Experience of Mothers in Raising Children with Hearing Loss: A Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threat Analysis in a South Indian Tertiary Care Center

Background: Parental well-being has a positive effect on child well being, and it affects their development. When childcare obligations are higher, parental stress increases, as in the case of raising a child with hearing loss. In India, the prevalence of congenital hearing loss in children is 2% and 4 out of every 1000 children have been found to have a diagnosis of severe to profound hearing loss. India is a land of cultural diversity with huge differences in family systems and socioeconomic status. To delve into parental perspectives, identify issues, and decide on the most appropriate remedies, it is important to understand experiences that the parents face in the given context. Thus, the aim of the study was to explore the experience of mothers in raising a child with hearing loss, as their perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). Method: Group discussion from homogeneous groups of 58 mothers was conducted. A thematic qualitative analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing caregivers of children with hearing loss in terms of SWOT. Results: Strengths were identified as intrapersonal skills, interpersonal skills, and positive relationships with the child. Weaknesses included family adaptation, stress management, and emotional and feelings issues. Threats included negative attitudes from society, financial constraints, and long-term maintenance of devices. Opportunities were associated with the habilitation center, which included access to professional guidance, peer support, and structured intervention programs. Conclusion: It is recommended that habilitation centers should provide caregiver sensitive and state-of-the-art facilities/programs to support the caregiving roles of mothers.