Using telehealth technology to improve the delivery of health services to people who are deaf

Abstract

The use of technology to access sign language interpreters from a remote location can have a significant impact on the timely access of such services for people who are deaf. The potential integration of such services is contingent on factors such as the availability of suitable equipment and the acceptance of the technological solution by people who are deaf, sign language interpreters and the health professionals. A system was assembled to address the needs of the users while maintaining focused on the requirement of the system being feasible such that it remains an option for small clinics and even medical offices. The technological solution was tested using simulated sessions involving people who are deaf, health professionals and sign language interpreters. The sessions simulated typical health conditions seen in hospital emergency rooms, medical clinics and doctor offices. Data collected from all participants indicate the technology proved to be acceptable in most simulated situations.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Bringing Telehealth Services to Special Populations

“…Telehealth has also been used to provide health services to people who are deaf by linking sign language interpreters with the health providers in hospital emergency rooms, medical clinics, and doctor offices. 71 Advances in information and communication technologies are also providing new and exciting opportunities within the international community, leapfrogging over barriers to access to care and health education in both developed and developing countries. These international and multinational telehealth efforts can provide a platform for sharing knowledge, experience, and best practices in a manner that is culturally sensitive and appropriate.…”

Providing Athletic Training Resources to Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Persons

“…Telemedicine allows the provider, interpreter, and patient to access the appointments remotely. 10 This option allows athletic trainers in rural areas to access care for their Deaf patients if their area does not have any medical interpreter for ASL. Telemedicine systems designed for the triangle of care have been deemed acceptable for healthcare use on simulated patient interactions for most medical appointments.…”

“…Telemedicine systems designed for the triangle of care have been deemed acceptable for healthcare use on simulated patient interactions for most medical appointments. 10 Also, if an interpreter is unavailable for an appointment, many telemedicine modalities have closed captioning functions. However, it should be noted that the closed captioning function is imperfect due to errors in the software captions, lack of ability to interpret non-verbal cues, and unreliability of the technology.…”

Provision of mental health care services to deaf individuals using telehealth.

“…Past and present researchers in the Deaf mental health field have called for the implementation of telehealth to assist in alleviating the problem of inadequate access to care (Alverson et al, 2008; Hughes, Hudgins, & MacDougall, 2004; Pollard, 1999). As recent as 2012, the development, exploration and examination of the effectiveness of telehealth and other web-based applications for use with Deaf individuals were named top research priorities in the field of Deaf mental health care (National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, 2012).…”