Healthcare Services for the Deaf - Essay Example

Healthcare Services for the Deaf In His article titled “The Unique Challenges Encountered by the Deaf in Accessing Healthcare Services”, William C. Cameron presents some very relevant issues related to the inadequacy of healthcare services for the deaf. The difficulties and challenges the deaf face all through the process and some practical solutions to them are the major issues dealt with in the essay. Cameron’s writing appeals to all kinds of readers as it starts with some questions related to the expectations and experiences all people would have of healthcare services.

No one would like to be “poked and prodded at” and not told why. The deaf usually face situations where the doctors are not capable of, or rather concerned of, the necessity to communicate effectively with them. When w deaf person feels like being treated like a child, or not given a chance to take significant health decisions, the entire practice can have a disconcerting effect. The major reason for such situation would be that the doctors don’t know how to communicate with the deaf.

In an inclusive society where deaf people share their space with others, it becomes necessary to provide them a more homely, effective service in healthcare. The fact that deaf people use American Sign Language and the healthcare community remains ignorant to this raises certain challenges to the deaf. Their problems start with the first step of making an appointment for healthcare services. This is usually done over the phone and even with the specialized communication services or equipment, there can be difficulty communicating with the providers.

Even though many healthcare providers have the equipments and services for deaf clients, they are ineffectual due to the lack of trained people. Deaf people have to face the challenge of a waiting room as well, are usually “set up to accommodate those who hear”. When their names are just called out, there is always the chance that deaf people may fail to notice that. The lack of a trained ASL interpreter in the staff makes the situation worse in many cases. Even with the help of an interpreter, a doctor who does not comprehend the way deaf communication takes place may not comprehend the way in which the deaf patient relates to the interpreter and how it prohibits the patient from maintaining eye contact with the doctor.

Many doctors expect the deaf to lip read them or to communicate through written English. Deaf patients usually feel left out when taking major decisions about their health, not even fully informed of their health conditions. The problems that the deaf people face in accessing healthcare services are not supposed to exist. Cameron observes that these challenges should not exist, if one looks at it from a legal standpoint. But more than that, it is a question of an inclusive society, where each individual has to be aware of their role in extending their services to provide the right ambience for the peaceful co-existence with people who are challenged in some way or the other.

Medical science has made some advancements in the treatment of people with special needs, but it still remains the duty of those who are trained in the field to assimilate it fully. The only way to help deaf people cope better with healthcare services would be to convince the service providers of the necessity to cater to the special needs of the deaf people. They must be put to the task of finding out some pragmatic solutions, within the available infrastructure, for the entire process of healthcare services, like taking of an appointment, sharing a waiting room with general people, communicating with the doctor and so on.

ReferencesCameron, William C. “The Unique Challenges Encountered by the Deaf in Accessing Healthcare Services.” Life Print Library. 9 November 2006 (American Sign Language University) 22 April 2007.