Tips for Hard of Hearing People in a Medical Setting

1. Tips for Hard of Hearing Peoplein 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

2. Royal National InstituteStudy in EnglandFebruary 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

3. Medical Settings • Offices and Clinics • Medical Doctor • Dentist • Eye Doctor • Lab Work • Hospital • Emergency Room • In Patient Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson

4. Offices and Clinics Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson

5. 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

6. Please Face Me I am Hard Of Hearing 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 Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson

7. “Have a seat, the doctor will be right with you” “First we need you to go to room 456 for the abc work” In the Waiting Room What They Say What They Mean “We’ll call your name and you’ll have no idea it’s your turn.” “Guess where we are sending you and what for” Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson

8. Strategies in the Waiting Room • Alert everyone • you are hard of hearing • cannot hear your name called • Ask for written directions: • What • Where • Who “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.” Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. The Hospital Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson

18. 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

19. 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 In the Hospital Making the room accessible • Captioning • Amplified phone or TTY Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson

20. 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

21. Beth Wilson BethJWilson@compuserve.com http://www.shhh.org Presentation Submitted by Beth Wilson