About 10% of the U.S. population has some degree of hearing loss (NCHS, 1994). Many patients with hearing loss experience communication difficulties with health care providers. In addition, most health care facilities are not accessible to deaf and HOH people (e.g., lacking TTYs and sign language interpreters; Hamlin & DeLeeuw, 1998; Zazove et al., 1993). There are not enough data, however, describing the consumers' perspective on their access to health care, and how this affects health maintenance and disease prevention. This study documents the barriers to health care delivery that deaf and HOH patients encounter as a function of their mode of communication (Speech vs. American Sign Language) and type of health insurance. Thirty-seven clients at a rehabilitation agency for deaf and HOH consumers were interviewed to date (data collection is currently ongoing) in their preferred mode of communication. Sign language users had significantly lower scores on two of six indicators: “Knowledge of own health status”, and “Good care” (e.g., getting annual screenings, current immunizations). Three other indicators, although not significant, showed the same pattern: “Healthy living” (e.g., exercising, not smoking), “Doctor recommends healthy living,” and “No access” (e.g., using emergency room for medical care). Patients with Medicaid received lower scores than those with private insurance on three of the six indicators: “Good care,” “Healthy living,” and “No access.” Documenting these systematic inequities in access to health care would enable making evidence-based recommendations to physicians, clinics, and policy-makers. See www.lhh.org
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Recognize the barriers to heath care that deaf and hard of hearing patients encounter; 2. Describe the effects of these barriers on patients’ health; and 3. Avoid common behaviors that create obstacles to good care for these patients (e.g., look away when talking).
Keywords: Access to Health Care, Deaf Patients
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: League for the Hard of Hearing;
New York Academy of Medicine (sponsor);
Open Society Institute (sponsor)
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.