Deaf Cultural Features and Healthcare: An overview of current knowledge and new insights

This article presents an overview of features of Deaf Culture that may influence the health and healthcare provision of (D)deaf/Hard of hearing (DHH) people. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate this issue and structured interviews were held. Subsequently a large epidemiological study was conducted to evaluate the health of DHH people in the Netherlands. Compared to hearing people, the DHH group experienced a lower health related quality of life (HQoL).Communication barriers, barriers due to less general knowledge and specific Deaf Culture barriers influence healthcare provisions. A more extensive use of sign language and a higher degree of identification with Deaf culture and/or hearing culture appear to be related to a better HQoL. Healthcare workers and DHH people themselves should be acquainted with this information from the point of view of equal rights to good healthcare for all people, as well as for ethical and legal reasons.