Adolescents' experiences of receiving and living with sequential cochlear implants: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

There is currently a unique opportunity to examine the experiences of young people who receive a second sequential cochlear implant (SCI), after only having had 1 cochlear implant (CI) for most of their lives. Eleven young people who had opted to receive an SCI were interviewed. Interpretative phenomenological analysis resulted in the identification of 6 master themes. Most participants enjoyed improved confidence and social well-being following their SCI and felt that 2 CIs were superior to 1. The majority identified themselves as hearing and deaf, but not culturally Deaf, as they strived to live in the hearing world. However, this was not without challenges and many young people experienced feelings of difference in the hearing world. These findings have clinical implications in terms of the role of clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals in CI clinics and in providing information to families making decisions about CIs. These findings add to the emergent deaf identity development literature in young people with CIs.

Computer-assisted assessment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in young people: a preliminary evaluation of the Development and Well-Being Assessment.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often goes undetected, delaying access to evidence-based treatment. This study aimed to assess the utility of a computerised diagnostic tool, the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA), in detecting OCD and comorbidity in youth. METHOD: A total of 51 young people referred to a specialist OCD service between September 2007 and July 2008 completed the DAWBA prior to clinical assessment. Computer-rated and clinician-rated DAWBA diagnoses were compared with those assigned by the specialist clinic. RESULTS: The computer-rated and clinician-rated DAWBA correctly classified OCD in 71% and 77% of cases respectively. Compared to consensus diagnoses, the computer-rated DAWBA tended to over-diagnose comorbidity, while the clinician-rated DAWBA diagnoses of comorbidity corresponded well with the consensus. CONCLUSIONS: The DAWBA has potential value in detecting OCD as well as comorbid disorders, and could be a cost-effective method for diagnosing OCD and related problems.

Parent experiences of attending a specialist clinic for assessment of their child's obsessive compulsive disorder.

BACKGROUND: There are few published studies that have examined parental satisfaction with child mental health assessment. This study reports parental satisfaction with assessment in a national and specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders. METHOD: Forty parents completed a specially developed questionnaire designed to assess expectations and experiences of attending a specialist assessment. RESULTS: High levels of satisfaction were reported. Common expectations of the assessment included: advice or information about the treatment of OCD, a diagnosis or understanding of the child's problems, and an offer of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of parents reported that their expectations were met, and some suggestions for improvement to the service were noted.