title: Getting your message through to your hard of hearing or deaf patients or families.
abstract: Of the more than 28 million people in the United States who are deaf or hard of hearing, about 40% of this population is found in the elderly. The information in this article will help plastic surgical nurses understand the Deaf culture better as well as provide inventory of communication possibilities so your dialogue is both complete and effective. The following simple guidelines can help make communication between you and your deaf patient more effective.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Ekstrom
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003638:Deafness; D034381:Hearing Loss; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D011368:Professional-Family Relations