Many deaf and hard of hearing people find communication with health care professionals challenging, and experience poorer health outcomes. This module uses simulated scenarios to demonstrate some of the obstacles these patients face when accessing health services, and practical ways to facilitate improved communication:

• Five video scenarios illustrate genuine communication problems and solutions for patients who rely on either lip-reading or sign language. They’re drawn from a wide range of healthcare settings, and the key points to remember are drawn out clearly for future reference.
• Short video interviews bring in deaf and hard of hearing people’s own accounts of accessing healthcare services, and the perspectives of other professionals who work closely with them.
• A BSL fingerspelling reference is also provided, as well as succinct information and links about deafness and loss of hearing.