Overview-Healthcare for People with Hearing Loss
Patients with hearing loss can be hesitant to ask for accommodations, and these accommodations are rarely offered without requests. It is imperative that health professionals realize the high prevalence of hearing loss in all populations and proactively offer services that enable patients with hearing loss to understand the critical information communicated by healthcare professionals.
Below are some technological solutions for communicating effectively with people with hearing loss. These provide “auxiliary aids and services” under Effective Communication with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The patient may bring their own personal equipment; however, the medical provider must have the necessary equipment on hand.
Practical Techniques
- ACCESS. ACCESS is a framework of six core principles for communication in healthcare settings. People with communication disabilities often find it hard to get the information and communication supports they need to fully access health services and programs. This can lead to less-than-ideal outcomes for everyone involved. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Better Health Starts with Effective Communication program
- Statistics
- Technology devices. Technology for people with hearing loss
- Assistive listening systems (Supplied by Provider)
- Captions (Supplied by Provider or patient-owned)
- Personal Amplification (Supplied by Provider or patient-owned)
- Remote Microphones (Patient-owned and provided)
- Resources
- Blog. To receive blogs, vlogs, and other content on this important issue, sign up on the HealthcareWithHearingLoss.com website. More information (this website)
- Complaints. Where to submit healthcare complaints
- Resources, General. Healthcare resources. Curated videos, whitepapers, articles, webinars
- Resources, Technical: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA & Healthcare
- Tools. Tools. Handouts
- Vendors
- Personal amplification
- Service counter hearing loops
- Masks with clear window for lipreading
- Optrel, NIOSH-approved N95
- ProGear, Clear-View See-Through Window Mask, ASTM Level 1
- Safe ‘N Clear, The Communicator™ Clear Face Mask. meets ASTM Level 1 and Level 3 surgical mask standards with the added benefit of a fog-resistant clear window for improved communication
- Stealth Clarity N99