Dialogue Volume 12 Issue 2 2016 | Page 33

practice partner a family physician in Vancouver and a 2nd year dermatology resident at UBC . She says by exploring what suits a patient who is deaf or hard of hearing , doctors can employ a range of communication strategies . “ When in doubt , ask ,” says Dr . Dunkley . “ This can be a therapeutic approach in giving your patient the confidence to speak for themselves , or share their experiences .” As part of office protocol , consider guidelines on how to deal with patients with hearing loss , so all staff feel confident about communicating effectively . Mark patient notes / files with accessibility symbols to inform other staff . Perhaps schedule longer than usual appointments , to allow extra time for interpretation or double-checking comprehension . Many of these strategies simply mirror
Dr . Jessica Dunkley
photo : michael sean lee photography
Do facilitate speech-reading ( for patients who can ) by facing the patient . Avoid placing objects in front or your face , turning away while speaking , or sitting in a poorly-lit room . “ Take caution in assuming all deaf and hard of hearing people can speech-read , as only a fraction of the English language can be captured this way and relies on previous speechreading training ,” says Dr . Dunkley .
Don ’ t address the interpreter if one is being used ( either an ASL interpreter or anyone else the patient brings along to assist ). “ Devote your attention to the patient as you would with anyone else ,” says Dr . Dunkley .
Don ’ t engage in side conversations , which Banks says can be confusing to the patient , i . e ., they may be unsure who you ’ re talking to .
Do think of how else you can communicate , e . g ., the computer or pen and paper . Use gestures ( including pointing to body parts ) or facial expressions to convey meaning or emotions . Consider how diagrams and visual aids can help too .
Do write down important information for the patient to leave with , i . e ., their condition , medicine or treatment choices .
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