In the UK, one in five adults is deaf, have hearing loss, or tinnitus – that’s roughly 12m adults. Deafness and hearing loss are particularly prevalent in the older generations, affecting 70 per cent of over 70s. As such, it’s important to consider the effects that deafness can have on your patients, their oral health, and their experiences in the dental practice. With an estimated 1.2m adults unable to hear most conversational speech, navigating conversations about their oral health in a busy environment which isn’t equipped for non-verbal communication is challenging.
Hearing impairment and access to dental care
When accessing dental care, it’s crucial for deaf people to receive the same level of care as hearing people. The Equality Act 2010 makes it a requirement that reasonable adjustments are made to make sure that everyone has equal access to dental care.
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