Challenges experienced by healthcare workers in managing patients with hearing impairment at a primary health care setting: a descriptive case study

Abstract

There has been little research on the experiences of healthcare workers (HCWs) with deaf/hearing impaired (HI) clients. Anecdotal evidence suggests that HCWs experience challenges, but little is reported on how they manage these challenges. Interactions with and care of deaf/Deaf and HI patients by clinicians has yielded several questions around communication and assessment strategies, as well as comparative quality of health care for deaf/Deaf and HI clients. This research was intended to further the understanding and knowledge of these aspects of health care of deaf/Deaf and HI clients.