How to Treat a Deaf Patient in a Dental Office

Deaf patients require dental care just like hearing patients do, of course. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires dental offices to provide services to deaf patients without discriminating against them in any way, and this means making services accessible to them. It's certainly handy if dentists and their staff can communicate with sign language, but many people can't, and familiarity with sign language is not necessary in order to provide good treatment for a deaf patient. It does require a bit of forethought and planning, however.

Instructions

• 1

  Ask the patient how he prefers to communicate and whether he needs any special accommodations, including an interpreter, when he calls to schedule an appointment. If someone else calls to make the appointment for the patient, ask these questions. Some deaf patients communicate by speaking and speechreading, or lip reading. Others use sign language. Some patients that do not speak or speechread will bring someone with them to interpret, while others prefer to communicate by writing notes. Still others will request an interpreter.

• 2

  Arrange for an interpreter if necessary. You can contact the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf at 703-838-0030 or visit their website "See Resources" to find registered interpreters in your area.

• 3

  Speak directly to the patient, even if he communicates with the assistance of an interpreter. Don't talk to the interpreter instead of the patient or ask the interpreter to tell the patient something. Just speak to the patient the same way you would speak to a hearing person, and the interpreter will interpret for him.

• 4

  Remove your mask and face shield when speaking to a patient that speechreads. This may mean stopping in the middle of a procedure so you can safely remove your mask and face shield if you need to tell the patient something, but people cannot speechread if they cannot see your mouth and face clearly.

• 5

  Ask questions if you aren't sure you understand what the patient is trying to communicate to you or if you aren't sure he understands what you are trying to communicate.