Thesis (doctoral)--Instituto General Franco de Estudios e Investigación Hispano-Arabe. / Bibliography: p. 231-236.

This project involved the development of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt parent education tool for parents of infants and children with hydrocephalus. The educational needs of these parents were identified and a tool which would increase their understanding of potential shunt complications was designed. The tool was initially developed, piloted, evaluated, and revised with input from ten parents of children who previously had shunt placement for hydrocephalus, from health care experts, and from review of literature. Testing of the tool took place with five parents of infants with newly diagnosed hydrocephalus undergoing initial surgery for a VP shunt. A pre-test was given and written material distributed to the parents. Two 15-30 minute parental teaching sessions were dont to review the materials on hydrocephalus and shunts, differentiate the types of potential shunt problems, and afford parents the opportunity to ask questions. A post-test was given at their return office visit approximately three to four weeks after their infant's surgery. Results showed that post-test scores improved from pre-test scores. Evaluations mailes to the parents one month later indicated the tool helped increase their level of understanding of hydrocephalus and shunt care and decrease their stress level in caring for their infant.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Communication Disorders, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 44-51).

Professional research project (Au.D.)--University of South Florida, 2000. / Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 22 pages. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate further the characteristics of hearing loss in ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunted hydrocephalus. Twelve (VP) shunt treated hydrocephalus children participated in this study. The etiology of the hydrocephalus was either intraventricular hemorrhage or spina bifida. A recent neurological examination reported the shunt to be patent in each child. Audiometric examination included pure tone air conduction thresholds, tympanometry, contralateral and ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE&softsign;s). A unilateral, high frequency, sensorineural hearing loss was found in the ear ipsilateral to shunt placement in 10 (83%) of the 12 shunt treated hydrocephalic children. No hearing loss was observed the ear contralateral to shunt placement. Based on the pure tone findings coupled with the decrease in DPOAE amplitude in the shunt ear, the hearing loss appears to be cochlear in nature. It is hypothesized that the cochlear hydrodynamics are disrupted as the result of fluid pressure reduction within the perilymph being transmitted via a patent cochlear aqueduct as a reaction to the reduction of CSF via a patent shunt. In addition, a concomitant brainstem involvement is evidenced in the ART pattern possibly produced by the paten shunt draining CSF from the subdural space resulting in cranial base hypoplasia. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.