[The deaf patient--information for a barrier-free conversation with patients in dentistry].
There are about 650,000 people with hearing problems in Switzerland, 10,000 of whom use sign language. About 100,000 people are hard of hearing. Deaf patients require special treatment in the dental office as they have specific communication needs. This community, like many other minority groups, has a sign language and a culture of its own. To prevent misunderstandings it is therefore very important to provide solutions for an enhanced communication. However, guidelines for the communication with deaf dental patients are still missing. Successful communication between deaf patients and dentist is essential for effective care. This paper is concerned with providing background information and introducing recommendations for unrestricted dentist-patient communication. The aim of this article is to improve dentists' knowledge of the appropriate communication with this patient group.
Klinik für Zahnerhaltung, Präiventiv- und Kinderzahnmedizin, Zahnmedizinische Kliniken der Universität Bern.
Tatjana
T
Binggeli
Adrian
A
Lussi
Brigitte
B
Zimmerli
D003144:Communication Barriers; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities / Q000379:methods*; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006801:Humans; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities; D012813:Sign Language