ABSTRACT
The Faculty of Medicine at Tottori University has integrated sign language education into its curriculum since 2008, taking advantage of opportunities arising from curriculum revisions. Through the mandatory course titled “Basic Sign Language,” medical students acquire essential sign language expressions and develop an understanding of the challenges that people with hearing impairments face in society, as well as the necessary accommodations required. In the advanced elective course “Medical Sign Language,” students are taught sign language expressions that are vital for effective communication in medical settings. They also gain insights into the specific difficulties experienced by individuals with hearing impairments in healthcare environments and learn about the appropriate accommodations needed. Owing to these educational efforts, the medical school has produced a number of physicians trained in sign language, enhancing the accessibility and safety of medical services for the hearing impaired. The hope is that sign language education will be adopted by medical schools across the nation moving forward.