Deaf awareness strategies in healthcare

ALL_EARS@UoS is a patient and public involvement and engagement group established to foster a working partnership between researchers and people with lived experience of hearing loss.1 This letter draws on the insights of ALL_EARS@UoS members to respond to the recognition that the NHS needs to improve accessibility and services for d/Deaf and hard of hearing people.23People with hearing impairment face major barriers to effective communication in healthcare settings.4 These are greater in underserved groups,56 including the diaspora communities. This raises the risk of delayed detection of disease and the detrimental effects of long term conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dementia.7Around 18 million people in the UK have hearing loss or tinnitus. This means that many healthcare appointments are with people who might struggle to interact in the appointment. We have used our lived insights to offer practical solutions to this challenge.NHS staff should be supported to engage with the…
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