Health Care Access Among Deaf People: Table 1.

Abstract

Access to health care without barriers is a clearly defined right of people with disabilities as stated by the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. The present study reviews literature from 2000 to 2015 on access to health care for deaf people and reveals significant challenges in communication with health providers and gaps in global health knowledge for deaf people including those with even higher risk of marginalization. Examples of approaches to improve access to health care, such as providing powerful and visually accessible communication through the use of sign language, the implementation of important communication technologies, and cultural awareness trainings for health professionals are discussed. Programs that raise health knowledge in Deaf communities and models of primary health care centers for deaf people are also presented. Published documents can empower deaf people to realize their right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health.

A Novel Technique for Speech Recognition and Visualization Based Mobile Application to Support Two‐Way Communication between Deaf‐Mute and Normal Peoples

“…Lack of knowledge about Deaf culture is documented in society as well as in healthcare environment [24]. Kuenburg et al also indicated that there are significant challenges in communication among healthcare professionals and Deaf people [25]. Improvement in healthcare access among Deaf people is possible by providing the sign language supported visual communication and implementation of communication technologies for healthcare professionals.…”

Evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of British Sign Language Improving Access to Psychological Therapies: an exploratory study

“…26 Studies have demonstrated the inaccessibility of health services to Deaf BSL users, [27][28][29][30] including mental health services, resulting in late diagnoses and loss of benefit from early preventative interventions. 31 Poor access to information about health-related matters in BSL results in poor awareness among Deaf community members of mental health issues, including personal support strategies, help-seeking behaviours, routes of referral and treatment options. Often Deaf people use mental health services only when a difficulty has escalated to the point at which secondary/tertiary care intervention is required.…”

“…It is well evidenced that Deaf people experience significant health inequalities in terms of access to services and health outcomes in a range of domains. 23,31,49,50 In part this results from a failure to adequately provide sign-interpreted access to health care despite the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty 5 and the NHS Accessible Information Standard. 51 Lack of cultural competence of health practitioners also plays a part in Deaf people's less than optimum engagement with treatment.…”

Atenção à saúde e surdez: desafios para implantação da rede de cuidados à pessoa com deficiência

“…De igual modo, devem ser abordadas as distintas concepções de surdez e de pessoa surda, que incluem suas dimensões fisiológicas, simbólicas e culturais (22). A capacitação em competências culturais para os profissionais de saúde também pode contribuir para favorecer o acesso dos surdos aos serviços (23) . Pautada no projeto clínico-hegemônico-patológico da deficiência, a formação acadêmica desconsidera o tecido social e cultural da surdez (24) .…”