Download Tips for Travelers with Hearing Loss

Tips for Hard of Hearing People
in a Medical Setting
Beth Wilson
This presentation may be freely used by
any SHHH Chapters. It’s available for
download from
www.nchearingloss.org/programs.htm
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
Royal National Institute
Study in England
February 2000


22% Deaf or HOH patients leave
a doctor’s appointment unsure
of what is wrong with them
87% of GPs feel that they
communicate effectively with
Deaf and HOH patients
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
Medical Settings

Offices and Clinics
 Medical
Doctor
 Dentist
 Eye
Doctor
 Lab Work

Hospital
 Emergency
 In
Patient
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
Room
Offices and Clinics
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
The First Visit:
Filling out the Forms

Describe Your Hearing Loss
write notes on the forms you fill out
 ask the receptionist to make a special note on your file


Include Specifics
“I hear low tones”
 “I do okay if I can lipread the speaker”


Offer Suggestions
“Things are easier if I am in a quiet bright room”
 “I need people to face me when they speak”
 “I can’t lipread someone wearing a mask”

Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
Making an Impression

Wear a “Face Me I’m Hard of Hearing” button
explains why you don’t respond
 reminds people who have forgotten


Hand out “Ear/Slash” stickers
on intake form
 outside folder

Please
Face Me
I am
Hard Of Hearing
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
In the Waiting Room
What They Say
What They Mean
“Have a seat, the
doctor will be right
with you”
“We’ll call your name
and you’ll have no
idea it’s your turn.”
“First we need you to
go to room for the
work”
“Guess where we are
sending you and
what for”
456
abc
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
Strategies in the
Waiting Room

Alert everyone
 you
are hard of hearing
 cannot hear your name called

Ask for written directions:
 What
 Where
 Who
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
“My problem is not what I
don’t hear but what I
think I did hear -- please
make us both feel better
by writing it down.”
That Paper Gown

Problem



how long before they come back?
is that a knock I hear?
Solution


explain that you will not hear a knock
offer to open the door slightly when ready
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
The First Visit:
Meeting the Doctor

Take Charge of the Exchange Early
 “Before
we begin, we need to talk”
 “I need to explain my hearing loss”

Point Out the Advantages to Them
 Accurate
communication
 Efficiency
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
With the Doctor

Initiate discussion BEFORE the
examination
 explain
that you need to see the
speaker
 sit in a chair instead of the table

Initiate follow-up discussion
AFTER the examination
 repeat
back what you understood
 ask for clarification and confirmation
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
Use Humor to Ease the
Situation
 Don’t
scream at me,
you’ll scare me
and your other patients”
 “If
you remember to face me, I’ll
remember to take my hearing
aid out before you shine that
light in my ear.”
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
I Never Thought
of That...
Hearing Patients Hear:
their name called
 a knock on the door
 instructions in the dark
 a conversation through glass
 observations made through a mask
 a response over the intercom

Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
The Mammogram

Problem:



staff are trained to look away
can’t turn around to lipread…
Solution:


discuss everything before “the machine”
wear the “Face Me” button
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
At the Dentist Office

“Tell me what you are going to do”
ask for explanation before shots and drills
 don’t just nod -- repeat back what you thought you heard


Problems for the hard of hearing patient
difficult to hear over equipment
 light shining in your face
 dentist often wears mask
 hearing aid makes noises worse


Don’t be afraid to stop them
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
The Eye Doctor

Problems for the hard of hearing patient
dark room
 eye drops blur lipreading
 instructions often given from behind equipment


Ask for a “lights up” discussion before and after exam
ask for explanation before the drops
 repeat back what you thought you heard


Be firm -- ask for the lights
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
The Hospital
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
In the Emergency Room

Ask for quiet area for intake information
Ask to see the questions that are being asked
 Ask for direct interview (not through the glass)



Explain that you cannot be paged
Explain your loss
what you can hear
 what you can’t hear
 what will help you understand

You are the teacher!
You are the best source of information, so speak up about
what will help you.
If you don’t sign, make sure they are not making you wait
for an interpreter!
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
In the Hospital
Parade of staff that don’t know about your hearing:
 ask for note on chart
 put up a sign in the room
Intercom response may be verbal
Need your hearing aid and glasses for conversation
Make sure you understand everything
 repeat for confirmation
 ask for clarification






Making the room accessible
Captioning
Amplified phone or TTY
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
Summary


Don’t try to hide your hearing loss
Initiate discussions
before the exam-- what is happening
 after the exam -- what you need to do


Offer strategies
don’t expect them to know what to do
 be firm about your communication


Make sure you understand everything
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson
Beth Wilson
[email protected]
http://www.shhh.org
Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson