National Deaf Awareness Week
May 5, 2021
This is Deaf Awareness Week (May 3-9) which is about promoting the positive aspects of living with deafness.
The national event is held annually and aims to raise awareness of the isolation that deaf people can occasionally experience, and promote the importance of social inclusion around the deaf community.
This year’s theme is ‘Coming Through It Together’ and you can read more about the week through the following links.
Systems need to be in place nationally to raise awareness of all hospital staff of the need to identify those patients who are hearing impaired.
An elderly patient was in hospital for over a week before staff realised that they had lost his heating aids. This was despite relatives drawing attention to this fact when being assessed by paramedics. Disorientated and poorly he was unable to hear whst staff were saying to him.
He sadly died of Covid unable to communicate effectively with nursing staff.
Perhaps a coloured band could be worn on the wrist to identify this impairment.
Systems need to be in place nationally to raise awareness of all hospital staff of the need to identify those patients who are hearing impaired.
An elderly patient was in hospital for over a week before staff realised that they had lost his hearing aids. This was despite relatives drawing attention to this fact when being assessed by paramedics. Disorientated and poorly he was unable to hear what staff were saying to him.
He sadly died of Covid unable to communicate effectively with nursing staff.
Perhaps a coloured band could be worn on the wrist to identify this impairment.