Effective communication with deaf patients

Abstract

Effective communication in medicine should lead not only to communication of health care professionals with patients, but also to mutual understanding. Limited ability of communica-tion with deaf patients and providing inadequate feedback negatively affect their participation and implementation of successful nursing care. It is important that patients with hearing disabilities could express their needs, desires, feelings and opinions in communication with health care professionals. The specific approach of nursing staff to effective communication with deaf patients and respecting the reality that a patient is an equal partner who has the right to decide their own fate are essential prerequisites for establishing the contact in nursing prac-tice. In educational programme of future health care professionals we tried to find out how our students are prepared for interaction, communication and negotiation of communication barriers with deaf patients. We also recommend training programmes in practical education for developing the communication skills and to focus on requirements which would make an effective communication with deaf patients.