Deafness and Communicative Barriers with reference to University Courses in the Rehabilitation area

INTRODUCTION: Deafness frustrates communication. It creates a communication deficit/barrier between the deaf person and the hearing community. Without appropriate training of Healthcare staff in effective communication strategies, this gap can marginalize/exclude the Deaf Community by denying them access to necessary Healthcare provision with adverse outcome for diagnostic and therapeutic success. This study highlights the pressing need for and desire of Healthcare staff for training in effective communication strategies, the willingness of University Healthcare Degree Course Directors to explore this, and the perspective of the Deaf community itself, entitled to equal access to Healthcare MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using the Google forms platform, online questionnaires were given to the 3 stakeholders all over Italy: Deaf people DP; Rehabilitation Healthcare Staff RHS; University Degree Course Directors in Rehabilitation UDCDR. Data Analysis was carried out using the Google Forms program, SPSS program Windows7 Excel Spreadsheet. RESULTS: 252 RHS (89% women) participated, (92.9%) interested in Courses about Communication with Deaf People (57% of these had deaf patients, but only 45% had specific training). 39 DCHR took part (39,4% Heads of Speech Therapy courses and 35,3% Heads of Developmental Neuro-Psychomotricity Therapy courses). These Heads do not foresee training courses on the subject, even though 92% of them consider it quite/ very important for their students’ formation. 23 DP participated (69% aged 18-45); 56% report having received simplistic communications solely because they are deaf; 78% had problems in establishing a relationship of trust with health staff, due to communication barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Both health workers and deaf people identify significant training needs to overcome communication barriers. Apropos, the UDCDR involved show their willingness to pursue further study of this. KEY MESSAGES: • This study highlights the need to train health workers in essential communication strategies with deaf people, to reduce the significant barriers that prevent their access to appropriate therapy. • There is a need for training in effective communication strategies between deaf people and Rehabilitation Health Professionals. Training should be duly adapted to provide all inclusive Healthcare.