Effective Communication for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Patients in Hospitals is Vital.
A picture of the physician in a white coat pointing to the tablet. On the left side of the doctor is a statue of Lady Justice.

Effective Communication for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Patients in Hospitals is Vital.

Effective communication is key to providing quality healthcare, especially for patients who are deaf or hard of hearing. Hospitals must prioritize effective communication strategies to ensure that these patients receive the same level of care as their hearing counterparts.

When communication between the medical provider and patients is ineffective, it can result in negative outcomes such as misunderstandings, missed reports of symptoms, misdiagnosis, and confusion about medication. Unfortunately, there have been reports from patients who are deaf and do not understand the purpose of their prescribed medication or the importance of taking preventative medication to avoid a heart attack or a stroke.

To create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all patients, hospitals can use tools and resources that meet the unique needs of deaf or hard-of-hearing patients.

Access Vine is a training provider that can help hospitals ensure that every patient receives the care they deserve and that effective communication remains at the heart of quality healthcare.


Here are some tips to get started:

  • Listen to the patient's accommodation request.
  • Use different communication methods such as in-person service providers like sign language interpreters, oral interpreters, and computer-assisted real-time transcription (CART).
  • Contract with multiple agencies to guarantee access to qualified interpreters.
  • Work with an organization that hires trainers with expertise in Deaf Culture and accessibility needs for all levels of hearing loss.
  • Train staff to be sensitive to Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing patients.
  • Consider adding additional aids such as note-takers and captioned videos.
  • Make sure to provide accessible equipment, safety measures, and text-to-speech and Videophones.

Access Vine is a training and outreach service that is dedicated to improving accessibility and inclusion for individuals with hearing loss in the medical field. We offer training and resources on topics such as assistive technology, communication accessibility, and self-advocacy. Our primary goal is to improve accessibility for people who are deaf and hard of hearing in the medical setting. We work with healthcare providers and stakeholders across the country to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for individuals with hearing loss. We believe that by working together, we can build a more inclusive and accessible healthcare system for everyone. It takes a village.


Learn more about Access Vine

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Priscilla Doudt

Freelance deaf interpreter at Self employed

10 个月

Can I add something that may be slightly overlook such as having deaf interpreter is also another effective communication

Angela S.

Diversity! Equity! Inclusion!

10 个月

Thank you for addressing this ongoing issue. People don't generally understand what doesn't affect them directly.

Kym Meyer, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Worcester StateU #RethinkingAuralRehab #DeafEd #EdAudAdvocacy #AccessibleLanguage #DisabilityAdvocacy #CaptionYourVideos #UseTheMic #Accessibility

10 个月

This recently released DHH training video should be required watching for healthcare students and professionals https://lnkd.in/eA3eZ_fH

Lori Wild I Voice Actor

Commercials | Promo | Explainers | Radio Imaging | Audio Description I Retail | Narration | Speedy turnaround | Expert communicator | Advocate for the deaf and blind community | Animal lover | Cool Aunt

10 个月

Fantastic article! Thank you for bringing these accessibility issues to light! Another thing I run into occasionally in a healthcare setting, is a lack of empathy. It usually presents as them being annoyed, because I’m having trouble understanding what they’re saying. I truly believe that most people think that hearing aids solve the problem, so they think I should just be able to hear like they can. Has this happened to you before?

Meryl Evans, CPACC (deaf)

Educating organizations to make progress with accessibility and disability inclusion. TEDx, keynote, and international speaker. Inclusive marketing. #Captioned pusher. Author. LinkedIn Top Voice. Follow #MerylMots.

10 个月

Great article, Amanda. I never ask for CART because I know they’ll be clueless. I always make sure I repeat back and confirm information. When necessary, I have them write it down or a family member goes with me for the important ones. Fortunate to have strong health literacy as I learned from my parents. I need to repost an article as the site it was on is gone. #MerylMots

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