Hearing Impaired Physicians Tap Technology to Improve Communication

by Amy Hamaker •

“Because of my hearing loss, I might be a little more motivated than your average otologist; I understand what a 10-decibel difference really means,” said Dr. Dornhoffer. “There are many conditions that we cannot fix completely, and patients can become frustrated. Sometimes having a laugh or two with them commiserating over a lost hearing aid, can help them realize they are not alone.”

Amy Hamaker is a freelance medical journalist based in California.

Common Tools for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Physicians

  • Auditory, nonclinical equipment: A broad category encompassing auditory adaptations, such as a microphone/speaker system to transmit sound to the user’s assistive listening devices.
  • Computer-assisted real-time captioning: A professional typist types the spoken message in real time onto a screen for the DHoH user to read.
  • Oral interpretation: A professional interpreter reproduces the spoken message verbally for the DHoH user to speech-read.
  • Note-taking services: An appointed person takes notes during lectures or discussions, allowing the DHoH person to focus on the lecture or discussion.
  • Modified surgical masks: Variations used by colleagues have included surgical masks with transparent plastic windows over the mouth or replacement of the masks with ventilated, sterile hoods with transparent face shields.
  • Stethoscope modifications: Examples include adapting electronic stethoscopes to connect to the user’s hearing aid or cochlear implant sound processor.
  • Sign language interpretation: A professional interpreter relays the spoken message into signed communication, and/or the reverse.
  • Telephone relay service: A publicly funded service in which a DHoH user communicates by telephone with a hearing user, with a trained typist or interpreter as an intermediary via text or video monitor.
  • Voice carry-over: A variation of telephone relay service, in which the DHoH user speaks directly to the hearing user while the interpreter signs or types the spoken message in return.
  • Video relay service: A variation of telephone relay service in which an interpreter appears on the DHoH user’s monitor and signs the spoken message and/or the reverse.

Source: Academic Medicine. 2013;88:224-232