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Hospital and Healthcare

Practical Strategies

DO’S ✅

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  • Ask the patient what their preferred method of communication is

  • Make sure you are getting the patient's attention correctly (tapping them on the shoulder); it makes a big difference

  • Make sure when you are talking to a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person, that you are facing them at all times

  • Try to take your mask off, makes it easier for us to lip-read 

  • Speak normally, like you are talking to someone who has full hearing, not too fast, not too slow

  • Maintain eye contact with the patient

  • Face the patient directly, with nothing between the eyes and mouth, so we can rely on lip reading.

  • Put me in a quieter space when talking to me

  • Make sure that you remove your mask when talking to me 

  • Record hearing needs in patient records

  • Make sure that communication preferences are handed down between the staff

  • Reduce background noise, or find a quieter room

  • Make sure they understand, get them to repeat back to double-check

  • Use visual communication methods as well

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DON’TS ❌

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  • Turn your back when you are talking to the patient 

  • Move around the room when talking to the patient 

  • Speak quickly about what is going on, then slow down and make sure it is understandable.

  • Enunciate, it’s rude and disrespectful, and makes us feel stupid

  • Don't shout or talk louder than usual, it doesn’t make any difference to us

  • PLEASE, do not assume that all deaf people lip-read

  • Don't assume all deaf people use hearing devices 

  • Don't assume all deaf people use sign language as a form of communication

  • Assume “yes” means they understand

  • Don’t use the family as interpreters; not many people understand the medical terminology. 

  • NEVER say 'never mind' to the patient 

  • Don't approach from behind 

  • Don't give up. If there is a misunderstanding, try to figure out ways to make sense of it. 

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