Effective communication with deaf patients

Authors

  • Anna Horňáková
  • Anna Hudáková

Keywords:

communication, hearing disability, deaf patient, health care professional, communication barriers

Abstract

Effective communication in medicine should lead not only to communication of health care
professionals with patients, but also to mutual understanding. Limited ability of communication
with deaf patients and providing inadequate feedback negatively affect their participation
and implementation of successful nursing care. It is important that patients with hearing
disabilities could express their needs, desires, feelings and opinions in communication with
health care professionals. The specific approach of nursing staff to effective communication
with deaf patients and respecting the reality that a patient is an equal partner who has the right
to decide their own fate are essential prerequisites for establishing the contact in nursing practice.
In educational programme of future health care professionals we tried to find out how
our students are prepared for interaction, communication and negotiation of communication
barriers with deaf patients. We also recommend training programmes in practical education
for developing the communication skills and to focus on requirements which would make an
effective communication with deaf patients.

Published

2013-05-15