Communication between healthcare professionals and patients with hearing loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: We aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze published evidence on modes of communication between healthcare professionals and patients with hearing loss. METHODS: MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, and Thai Journals Online Complete databases were searched. A meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. Data on the prevalence and types of communication between healthcare professionals and patients with any extent of hearing loss were extracted. RESULTS: Twenty studies were included. Using a hearing aid (pooled prevalence, 57.4%; 95% CI, 11.4%-103.4%, N = 3, I2 = 99.33) and gestures (pooled prevalence = 54.8%, 95%CI: 17.4% to 92.1%, N = 7, I2 = 99.68) were the most commonly reported modes of communication. Few healthcare professionals could use sign language, and limited access to qualified interpreters was common. CONCLUSION: Communication barriers exist. Qualified sign language interpreters and assistive technology should be used to improve communication.

Sign language based educational interventions vs. other educational interventions to improve the oral health of hearing-impaired individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with special needs requiring special care are more vulnerable to oral health problems. Sign language is a communication medium and language of instruction for individuals with hearing impairments. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of sign language-based educational interventions compared to other educational interventions in improving the oral health of hearing-impaired individuals. METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched without any restriction on the publication date. Analytical and experimental studies that evaluated and compared the effectiveness of sign language with other educational intervention groups such as videos, posters etc were included. RESULTS: Initially, 5568 records were identified. Three relevant publications from India were eligible and included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Differences were reported in favour of sign language over other interventions concerning plaque status, gingival health, and oral hygiene status. CONCLUSION: Sign language-based interventions were found to be effective. However, further studies in different locations and populations are required to support their effectiveness.

Use of masks in the oral communication of hearing device users / Uso de máscara na comunicação oral para usuários de dispositivos auxiliares à audição

ABSTRACT Purpose: to assess the influence of wearing a mask on auditory-visual speech recognition, in a favorable listening situation, in hearing devices users. Methods: a cross-sectional observational study comprising 52 hearing aid users, whose speech recognition was assessed with six video-recorded lists of sentences with and without masks. The mean test results in the various situations were compared using the Friedman test with Bonferroni post hoc, the significance level being set at 5%. Results: speech recognition assessment results differed between the situations with and without masks and between mask types, with a small effect size. The post hoc, with p-values adjusted with the Bonferroni method, showed a difference between transparent masks and others. The transparent one had a higher mean (77.8%) of auditory-visual sentence recognition between the various situations. There were statistically significant differences, as the transparent mask provided a better performance than the others. Conclusion: the auditory-visual recognition of the hearing-impaired people was better with the transparent mask.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar a influência do uso de máscara no reconhecimento auditivo-visual de fala, em situação de escuta favorável, em usuários de dispositivos eletrônicos auxiliares à audição (DEAA). Métodos: estudo observacional transversal. Participaram 52 usuários de dispositivos auxiliares à audição que realizaram avaliação do reconhecimento de fala com seis listas de frases apresentadas em vídeo com e sem máscaras. Para comparar as médias dos resultados do teste nas diferentes situações, foi aplicado o Teste de Friedman, com pos-hoc de Bonferroni e nível de significância 5%. Resultados: houve diferença dos resultados da avaliação de reconhecimento de fala entre as diferentes situações, com e sem máscara, assim como entre os tipos de máscara, com tamanho de efeito de pequeno. O post-hoc, com valor de p ajustado pelo método de Bonferroni, mostrou diferença entre a máscara transparente e as demais. A máscara transparente apresentou maior média (77,8%) do reconhecimento auditivo-visual nas sentenças utilizadas entre as situações. Foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes com desempenho superior da máscara transparente em relação aos outros tipos de máscaras. Conclusão: conclui-se que o reconhecimento auditivo-visual para os deficientes auditivos foi melhor com a máscara transparente.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients are unsatisfied with and avoid German health care: Results from an online survey in German Sign Language.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 235,000 deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) people live in Germany. Due to communication barriers, medical care for this group is difficult in many respects. Especially in the case of acute illnesses, the possibilities of communication, e.g., through sign language interpreters, are limited. This study investigates the satisfaction of DHH patients with medical care in Germany in unplanned medical consultations. The aim of this study is to provide insights into DHH patient's perception of medical care, to identify barriers and avoidance behaviours that stem from fears, miscommunication, and prior experiences. METHODS: We obtained data from adult DHH participants between February and April 2022 throughout Germany via an online survey in German Sign Language. The responses of N = 383 participants (65% female, M = 44 years, SD = 12.70 years) were included in statistical analyses. Outcomes were convictions of receiving help, satisfaction with healthcare provision, and avoiding healthcare visits; further variables were concerns during healthcare visits, incidences of miscommunication, and a communication score. We calculated t-tests, ANOVAs, correlations, and linear and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Our main findings show that (1) DHH patients were unsatisfied with provided healthcare (M = 3.88; SD = 2.34; range 0-10); (2) DHH patients reported many concerns primarily about communication and treatment aspects when visiting a doctor; and (3) 57% of participants deliberately avoided doctor visits even though they experienced symptoms. Factors such as concerns during doctor's visits (B = -0.18; 95%CI: -0.34--0.02; p = .027) or miscommunication with medical staff (B = -0.19; 95%CI: -0.33-0.06; p = .006) were associated with satisfaction with medical care, while we found almost no associations with gender and location, and only few with age and education. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our findings suggest that DHH patients are unsatisfied with provided healthcare, they deliberately avoid doctor visits, and they face various communication barriers. This study revealed several communication-related determinants of satisfaction with healthcare in DHH patients, such as incidences of miscommunication and the communication score. Communication-related barriers have high potential to be addressed in collaboration with the DHH community. To improve the medical care and the satisfaction with healthcare in DHH patients, training healthcare professionals, digital technologies, and other communication-enhancing interventions should be explored in future intervention studies.

Hearing aid affordability in the United States.

PURPOSE: Substantial out-of-pocket costs for hearing aids constitute a barrier to hearing health care accessibility for older adults among whom prevalence of hearing loss is high. This study is the first to estimate the proportion of Americans with functional hearing loss for which out-of-pocket expenditures for hearing aids would be unaffordable at current average costs and determine how affordability varies by sociodemographic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We utilized data from the 2016 American Community Survey to determine the proportion of adults with functional hearing loss for whom hearing aids would constitute ≥3% of annual income or have post-purchase income below a poverty standard. Chi-square tests were used to identify differences in affordability outcomes by sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Results indicated that an average bundled cost of $2500 would constitute a catastrophic expense for 77% of Americans with functional hearing loss (N = 7,872,292) and would add an additional 4% of the population into poverty for the year (N = 423,548). Affordability outcomes varied significantly by age, race, sex, educational attainment and geographic location. CONCLUSIONS: Hearing aids were unaffordable for three-fourths of Americans with functional hearing loss, and their purchase would result in impoverishment for hundreds of thousands of individuals. Reductions in out-of-pocket hearing aid costs to $500 or $1000 would alleviate affordability issues for many Americans with hearing loss. Future federal and state policy should address poor rates of insurance coverage for hearing care, specifically among Medicare and Medicaid, to reduce out-of-pocket costs for hearing care particularly for older adults.Implications for rehabilitationAn average out-of-pocket hearing care cost of $2500 was unaffordable for over three quarters of Americans with functional hearing loss.Hearing care affordability varied significantly by demographic characteristics such as age, sex, gender, educational attainment and geographic region.Affordability constitutes a significant barrier to hearing care accessibility in the United States, where most costs of hearing aids and rehabilitation are statutorily excluded from insurance coverage, including the largest insurer of Americans, Medicare.

Visual learning strategies for oral health promotion and treatment interventions in children and adolescents with hearing impairment - A systematic review.

AIM: People with hearing impairment (HI) prefer visual learning strategies in daily activities owing to their reliance on vision. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness of visual learning as a communication strategy in improving oral hygiene and dental care of children and adolescents with HI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four electronic databases were searched and complemented by hand searching for original intervention studies published till December 2021. Eligible studies were screened, data was extracted as per priori data collection form and analyzed by thematic content analysis. The quality of studies was assessed as per the validated tools appropriate for study designs including ROB2, ROBINS-I, and NIH quality assessment tool. Out of 4159 records identified and 1302 duplicates removed, 24 original studies were identified and the visual learning strategies were classified into sign language, visual aids with or without sign language, customized educational demonstrations and the interim role of training the teachers. These strategies helped in improving oral hygiene status, oral health-related knowledge and attitude as well as dental anxiety during treatment. Participants were found to be satisfied with these strategies, however, significant heterogeneity in the included studies precluded meaningful meta-analysis. ROB2 and ROBINS were rated as high and serious in all included trials, respectively, and NIH Quality Assessment Tool for Pre-Post Studies With No Control as fair in five studies and poor in three. CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasize the significance of visual learning, however, long-term rigorously designed trials are needed to better understand effective and patient-centered communication methods for people with HI.

Effectiveness of educational video on deaf people's knowledge and skills for cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a randomized controlled trial / Efectividad de video educativo sobre conocimiento y habilidad de personas sordas para reanimación cardiopulmonar: ensayo controlado aleatorizado / Efetividade de vídeo educativo no conhecimento e habilidade de surdos para ressuscitação cardiopulmonar: ensaio randomizado controlado

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of an educational video on deaf people's knowledge and skills about cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Method: A randomized trial, carried out at three schools with 113 deaf people (control group = 57 and intervention group = 56). After the pre-test, the control group was exposed to the lecture, while the intervention group was exposed to the video. The post-test occurred immediately after the intervention and was repeated after 15 days. A validated instrument was used, with 11 questions, presented in video/Libras (to enable understanding by deaf people) and in written/printed form (to record the answers). Results: In the analysis of knowledge, the median of correct answers in the pre-test was similar between the groups (p = 0.635), while the intervention group had a higher accuracy in the immediate post-test (p = 0.035) and after 15 days (p = 0.026). In the skill analysis, the median of correct answers in the pre-test was higher in the control group (p = 0.031). There was no difference in the immediate post-test (p = 0.770), and there was a higher accuracy in the intervention group in the post-test after 15 days (p = 0.014). Conclusion: The video proved to be effective in increasing deaf people's knowledge and skills about cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: RBR-5npmgj.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar la efectividad de un video educativo sobre el conocimiento y la habilidad de las personas sordas acerca de la reanimación cardiopulmonar. Método: Ensayo aleatorizado, realizado en tres escuelas con 113 personas sordas (grupo control = 57 y grupo intervención = 56). Después de la prueba previa, el grupo de control fue expuesto a la conferencia, mientras que el grupo de intervención fue expuesto al video. La posprueba se realizó inmediatamente después de la intervención, y se repitió a los 15 días. Se utilizó un instrumento validado, con 11 preguntas presentadas en video/Libras (para que los sordos comprendan) y en forma escrita/impresa (para registrar las respuestas). Resultados: En el análisis de conocimientos, la mediana de aciertos en la preprueba fue similar entre los grupos (p = 0,635), mientras que el grupo intervención tuvo mayor acierto en la posprueba inmediato (p = 0,035) y después 15 días (p = 0,026). En el análisis de habilidades, la mediana de aciertos en la preprueba fue mayor en el grupo control (p = 0,031). No hubo diferencia en la posprueba inmediato (p = 0,770), y el grupo intervención tuvo más éxito en la posprueba a los 15 días (p = 0,014). Conclusión: El video demostró ser efectivo para aumentar el conocimiento y las habilidades de las personas sordas sobre la reanimación cardiopulmonar. Registro Brasileño de Ensayos Clínicos: RBR-5npmgj.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a efetividade de vídeo educativo no conhecimento e habilidade de surdos acerca da ressuscitação cardiopulmonar. Método: Ensaio randomizado, realizado em três escolas com 113 surdos (grupo controle = 57 e grupo intervenção = 56). Após o pré-teste, o grupo controle foi exposto à aula expositiva, enquanto o grupo intervenção foi exposto ao vídeo. O pós-teste ocorreu imediatamente depois da intervenção, e foi repetido após 15 dias. Foi utilizado instrumento validado, com 11 questões apresentadas em vídeo/libras (para viabilizar compreensão dos surdos) e de forma escrita/impressa (para registro das respostas). Resultados: Na análise do conhecimento, a mediana dos acertos do pré-teste foi semelhante entre os grupos (p = 0,635), enquanto houve maior acerto do grupo intervenção no pós-teste imediato (p = 0,035) e após 15 dias (p = 0,026). Na análise da habilidade, a mediana dos acertos do pré-teste foi maior no grupo controle (p = 0,031). Não houve diferença no pós-teste imediato (p = 0,770), e houve maior acerto do grupo intervenção no pós-teste após 15 dias (p = 0,014). Conclusão: O vídeo mostrou-se efetivo no aumento do conhecimento e habilidade de surdos acerca da ressuscitação cardiopulmonar. Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos: RBR-5npmgj.

Severe maternal morbidity and other perinatal complications among women with physical, sensory, or intellectual and developmental disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about severe maternal morbidity (SMM) among women with disabilities. OBJECTIVE: We assessed differences in SMM and other perinatal complications by presence and type of disability. We hypothesised that SMM and other complications would be more common in births to women with disabilities than to women without disabilities. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of California births from 2000 to 2012, using birth and death certificate data linked with hospital discharge data. We included singleton deliveries with gestational age of 23-42 weeks. We classified women as having any disability or not and identified disability type (physical, hearing, vision, intellectual/developmental disabilities [IDD]). Our primary outcome was a composite indicator of SMM. Secondary outcomes included additional perinatal complications: gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, venous thromboembolism, chorioamnionitis, puerperal endometritis and mental health disorders complicating pregnancy, childbirth or the puerperium. We used modified Poisson regression to obtain covariate-adjusted relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association of disability status and type with SMM and secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Of 5,787,090 deliveries, 33,044 (0.6%) were to women with disabilities. Of these, 311 per 10,000 were complicated by SMM, compared with 84 per 10,000 deliveries to women without disabilities. In multivariable analyses, risk of SMM for births to women with disabilities was nearly three times that for women without disabilities (RR 2.84, 95% CI 2.67, 3.02). Proportion and risk of SMM were greatest for vision disability (793 per 10,000; RR 4.04, 95% CI 3.41, 4.78). Secondary outcomes were also more common among women with disabilities. In particular, more than a third of births to women with IDD (37.4%) were complicated by mental health disorders (versus 2.2% for women without disabilities). CONCLUSION: As hypothesised, SMM and other perinatal complications were more common among women with disabilities than among women without disabilities.

Impact of an educational intervention on deaf and hard hearing females' knowledge and health beliefs regarding cervical cancer in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia: A theory-based study.

Deaf people experience barriers to communication that prevent access to health care and information that puts them at increased risk for lack of knowledge about prevention and early detection approaches to cancers. With decreased screening, they may be at a higher risk of discovering cervical cancer (CC) at a late stage. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on deaf and hard hearing females' knowledge and health belief regarding cervical cancer in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. A quasi-experimental study was performed from the beginning of April till the end of October 2021 using a convenience sample of 33 deaf and hard hearing married females students from Al-Amal center for deaf and hard hearing females and Tabuk University. The data were collected using an interview schedule composed of three parts translated to American Sign Language: background variables (basic data), cervical cancer knowledge quiz, and health belief model scale for CC and Pap smear test. About 75.8% of the participants were older than 20 years. The intervention-based HBM showed significant improvement in the overall knowledge score after the intervention compared to pre-intervention (FET = 16.345 P = 0.000). Moreover, significant enhancements (P <0.05) in all HBM construct scores after the HBM intervention compared to the pre-intervention. HBM-based educational interventions can be useful educational modalities for deaf and hard hearing populations. This intervention effectively enhanced the deaf and hard hearing females' overall knowledge and health beliefs scores.

Criteria to classify degrees of hearing loss and the social protection of people with this disability / Critérios para a classificação do grau da perda auditiva e proteção social de pessoas com essa deficiência

ABSTRACT Purpose: to identify criteria used nationally and internationally to classify degrees of hearing loss, compare them with what is established in the Brazilian law, and discuss possible consequences of such a law on the social protection of people with hearing loss. Methods: a narrative review was conducted to identify the criteria used in this classification, by searching the platforms VHL and PubMed in April 2020. It included primary human research explicitly mentioning the criteria used to classify the degree of hearing loss, published between 2015 and 2019 in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Literature Review: there is a preference for the four-frequency mean at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. The Brazilian law does not follow these criteria, which may pose a barrier to people with hearing loss, hindering their access to social protection programs. Final Considerations: there is no consensus on the best criteria, although the most encompassing ones in hearing assessment predominate - which are not the ones legally used in Brazil. It is necessary to debate the Brazilian legal criteria to ensure existing social rights to part of people with hearing loss in Brazil.

RESUMO Objetivos: identificar critérios adotados nacional e internacionalmente para classificação do grau da perda auditiva, compará-los com o estabelecido na legislação brasileira e discutir as possíveis consequências dessa legislação para a proteção social de Pessoas com Deficiência (PcD) auditiva. Métodos: realizou-se uma revisão narrativa para a identificação dos critérios utilizados nessa classificação. A busca foi realizada em abril de 2020, a partir das plataformas BVS e PUBMED. Foram incluídos estudos publicados entre 2015 e 2019, em inglês, espanhol e português, sobre pesquisas primárias realizadas com seres humanos e menção explícita aos critérios utilizados para a classificação do grau da perda auditiva. Revisão da Literatura: observou-se que há uma predileção pela média entre as frequências de 0,5, 1, 2 e 4 kHz. A legislação brasileira não segue esse critério, o que pode ser uma barreira para o acesso das PcD auditiva aos programas de proteção social. Considerações Finais: não há consenso sobre qual é o melhor critério, todavia há predominância de utilização do considerado mais abrangente para a avaliação auditiva, que não é o legalmente adotado no Brasil. É necessário um debate sobre o critério legal brasileiro, a fim de promover os direitos sociais instituídos para parte das PcD auditiva no Brasil.

Saúde auditiva nas Coordenadorias Regionais de Saúde do estado do Rio Grande do Sul: regulação de acesso, desafios e perspectivas / Hearing health care in the Regional Health Coordinating Bodies in Rio Grande do Sul: access regulation, challenges, and perspectives

RESUMO Objetivo compreender a dinâmica da regulação de acesso, os desafios e as perspectivas da atuação das Coordenadorias Regionais de Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul (CRS/RS) em saúde auditiva. Métodos estudo exploratório, transversal, de natureza censitária e análise descritiva. Envolveu os responsáveis pela regulação dos procedimentos de saúde auditiva nas CRS/RS, entrevistados quanto à formação profissional, identificação dos procedimentos disponíveis e respectiva oferta, sistemática da regulação de acesso e outras ações em saúde auditiva. Resultados participaram 15 profissionais, todas mulheres, de 16 das 18 CRS/RS existentes, entre 30 e 47 anos de idade: 13 fonoaudiólogas e duas fisioterapeutas, graduadas entre 1997 e 2012; 13 possuíam pós-graduação. Sobre a regulação nas CRS/RS, 13 utilizavam o Sistema Nacional de Regulação e três a realizavam manualmente; 12 utilizavam o protocolo disponibilizado pela Secretaria Estadual de Saúde/RS; dez CRS/RS regulavam procedimentos de Triagem Auditiva Neonatal e 16, de avaliação e diagnóstico, bem como de reabilitação. Verificou-se demanda reprimida para todos os procedimentos (maior para reabilitação auditiva) em 12 CRS/RS. Todas as CRS/RS realizavam uma ou mais ações promotoras da saúde auditiva, como vigilância, apoio matricial e atividades de educação em saúde. Conclusão a regulação de acesso em saúde auditiva é realizada de forma qualificada na maioria das CRS/RS. A oferta de procedimentos é insuficiente, sobretudo em reabilitação auditiva, que implica exclusiva atuação fonoaudiológica por meio de tecnologias leves e leve-duras.

ABSTRACT Purpose To understand the dynamics of access regulation, the challenges, and perspectives of the performance of the Regional Health Coordinating Bodies of Rio Grande do Sul (RHCB/RS) in hearing health care. Methods This is an exploratory, cross-sectional, census study and the analysis is descriptive. It involved those responsible for the regulation of hearing health care procedures in RHCB/RS, interviewed about professional training, identification of available procedures and their respective offer, access regulation systematics, and other actions in hearing health care. Results 15 professionals participated, all were women, from 16 of the 18 existing RHCB/RS, aged between 30 and 47; 13 speech-language pathologists and audiologists and two physiotherapists, who graduated between 1997 and 2012; and 13 had post -graduate degrees. Regarding regulation in RHCB/RS, 13 used the National Regulation System and three performed it manually; 12 used the protocol provided by the State Health Department/RS; ten RHCB/RS regulated procedures for Neonatal Hearing Screening and 16 for assessment and diagnosis, as well as auditory rehabilitation. There is a repressed demand for all procedures (greater for auditory rehabilitation) in 12 RHCB/RS. All RHCB/RS performed one or more actions to promote hearing health care such as surveillance, matrix support, and health education. Conclusion The access regulation in hearing health care is performed in a qualified way in most RHCB/RS; the offer of procedures is insufficient, especially in auditory rehabilitation, which includes exclusive speech-language pathologists and audiologists' performance through soft and soft-hard technologies.

Salud sexual y reproductiva en tiempos del COVID-19: accesibilidad de mujeres sordas y con discapacidad auditiva / Access of chilean deaf women to healthcare information and reproductive care

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic threatened the accessibility and response of healthcare systems worldwide. People with disabilities face specific access challenges to healthcare services and to healthcare information in accessible formats. Aim: To explore how deaf women acceded to information and sexual and reproductive health care during the first wave of COVID-19. Material and Methods: Sixty-one women with a median age of 32 years diagnosed with deafness and hearing loss were surveyed using an online questionnaire about access to healthcare information and midwifery care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Forty-nine percent of respondents lived in the Metropolitan Region. Sixty-eight percent of respondents mentioned that information about COVID-19 was not accessible for them. The main source of information that they used to learn about the pandemic were videos made by deaf people available on the internet. Seventy-five percent of women reported that they had not received accessible information about sexual and reproductive health, and 70.0% of women requiring midwife care could not book an appointment. Conclusions: The pandemic generated a crisis in the Chilean healthcare system that demands a new strategy to ensure people's healthcare access. People with disabilities such as those herein studied are marginalized when these new policies are being discussed and implemented. Decision-makers and sexual and reproductive health services must improve their strategies to allow women with disabilities, particularly deaf women gain access.

Redesigning a Web-Based Stakeholder Consensus Meeting About Core Outcomes for Clinical Trials: Formative Feedback Study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials that assess the benefits and harms of an intervention do so by measuring and reporting outcomes. Inconsistent selection and diversity in the choice of outcomes make it challenging to directly compare interventions. To achieve an agreed core set of outcomes, a consensus methodology is recommended, comprising a web-based Delphi survey and a face-to-face consensus meeting. However, UK government regulations to control the pandemic prohibited plans for a face-to-face consensus meeting as part of the Core Rehabilitation Outcome Set for Single-Sided Deafness (CROSSSD) study. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the modifications made by the CROSSSD study team to achieve consensus using web-based methods, but with minimal deviation from the original study protocol. METHODS: The study team worked with health care users and professionals to translate the planned face-to-face consensus meeting in a web-based format, preserving the key elements of the nominal group technique. A follow-up survey gathered evaluation feedback on the experiences of the 22 participating members. Feedback covered premeeting preparation, the process of facilitated discussions and voting, ability to contribute, and perceived fairness of the outcome. RESULTS: Overall, 98% (53/54) of feedback responses agreed or strongly agreed with the statements given, indicating that the web-based meeting achieved its original goals of open discussion, debate, and voting to agree with a core outcome set for single-sided deafness. Hearing-impaired participants were fully engaged, but there were some methodological challenges. For the participants, challenges included building rapport, understanding, and delivering the tasks in hand. For the study team, challenges included the need for thorough preparation and management of the unpredictability of tasks on the day. CONCLUSIONS: Sharing our experiences and lessons learned can benefit future core outcome set developers. Overcoming the challenges of delivering a web-based consensus exercise in the face of the pandemic can be applied more generally to maximize inclusiveness, enhance geographical access, and reduce research costs.

Challenges facing users of hearing aids during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the difficulties and obstacles of hearing-technology users during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. STUDY SAMPLE: Individuals with permanent hearing loss (n = 278) answered a questionnaire designed to identify potential obstacles caused by using hearing aids during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the reasons and deleterious effects associated with the devices. Each category reflected challenges in communicating, learning, and working during the pandemic. Different response categories were compared using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The duration of daily device usage before the imposed lockdown was significantly higher than that during (Z = -2.01, p < 0.05), potentially attributable to the pandemic-induced difficulties faced by hearing-technology users. Such challenges include the shortage of batteries for hearing devices, limited access to repair or programming services of said devices and accessories, termination of speech therapy sessions, and obstacles to employment and education. CONCLUSIONS: Among audiologists, efficiency and professionalism are required to educate the public and private health sectors regarding the prevalent challenges and their harmful impact on hearing-technology users during the COVID-19 pandemic. To overcome these issues, awareness of telepractice and its importance in providing audiological services to hard of hearing individuals should be raised.

The Impact of Senior Mobility Funding on Hearing Aid Acquisition and Compliance to Hearing Aid Use in a Singapore Hospital.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In 2013, the Singapore government reviewed and expanded the Senior Mobility Fund (SMF) to provide subsidy for assistive devices, including hearing aids (HA). While SMF has improved accessibility to HA, its impact on HA acquisition has not been determined. The study aims to elucidate the influence of SMF on HA acquisition and the relationship between financial funding and compliance to HA use. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 643 patients seen between January 2017 to January 2018 at the earnose and throat specialist outpatient clinic, who were referred for a hearing aid evaluation. Of the 643 patients, 109 patients with baseline hearing handicap (HH) scores recorded, and no formal diagnosis of cognitive impairment were included. The patients were grouped according to SMF eligibility and clinical data were obtained. RESULTS: The odds ratio for acquiring HA was significantly higher with SMF, regardless of HH scores. When looking at actual degree of hearing loss (DHL), HA uptake was significantly higher in the least severe of DHL categories. There is no relationship between SMF and compliance to HA use. However, HH score is positively correlated with data log in regression analyses. CONCLUSIONS: SMF appears to influence HA acquisition. Especially in financially funded patients with low self-perceived HH, the benefits of HA may be underappreciated given the few hours of HA use. Further studies are warranted to investigate the impact of financial funding on outcomes of HA users to help policy planners and clinicians be prudent in the utilization of SMF.

Representações sociais do cuidado à saúde de pessoas surdas por profissionais de saúde / Social representation of health care for deaf people by health professionals

Profissionais de saúde pouco conhecem sobre a comunidade surda e suas necessidades de saúde. Crenças baseadas em senso comum podem influenciar nas concepções sobre este grupo, com consequências no processo de cuidar. Nesse sentido, conhecer as representações sociais dos profissionais de saúde sobre o cuidado às pessoas surdas e as potenciais repercussões no cuidado à saúde pode contribuir com novos atos de cuidar, implementação de políticas públicas de inclusão social e de formação no campo da saúde. Para isso, foi desenvolvida uma pesquisa de caráter qualitativo, com aplicação da Teoria das Representações Sociais em sua abordagem processual. Realizou-se entrevista em profundidade com 37 profissionais de saúde de um hospital em Rondônia, dentre eles enfermeiros, médicos, fisioterapeutas e técnicos de enfermagem. Os dados oriundos da entrevista em profundidade foram analisados por meio do Alceste 2012 e os provenientes do instrumento de caracterização dos participantes foram submetidos à análise estatística. No material não aproveitado pela análise lexical realizada pelo Alceste aplicou-se análise de conteúdo temático-categorial. Como resultados, após a rodagem no software, o corpus dividiu-se em três classes. O Bloco 1 abrangeu a Classe 1 a qual resultou no tema "Cuidado ao surdo no serviço de saúde: um clamor silenciado", que apresenta representações sociais do cuidado à saúde da pessoa surda, sua dimensão simbólica, associada a interdição da comunicação, afetiva, demonstrando sofrimento, angústia e receio em atender usuários surdos, comportamental, ao se afastarem, evitarem atender ou dedicando mais tempo e atenção durante o cuidado e atitudinal, em que os profissionais se utilizavam de seu arsenal de estratégias na tentativa de estabelecer comunicação durante o atendimento, seja por meio de leitura labial, acompanhante, português escrito, gestos, dentre outros. O Bloco 2 resultou no tema "Demandas dos profissionais de saúde sobre o cuidado ao surdo" e abrangeu a Classe 2 ­ "O cuidado de agora: o que os profissionais demandam" em que se apontou as necessidades dos profissionais para atendimento aos surdos situados temporalmente no presente e a Classe 3 ­ "O cuidado do futuro: o que a formação necessita", situada no futuro, no que pode ser feito durante a formação do cidadão e do profissional de saúde para melhoria da inclusão social de pessoas surdas na sociedade. A partir dos resultados encontrados e da discussão com a literatura, elaborou-se propostas de intervenção para qualificação do cuidado à saúde de pessoas surdas com vistas à acessibilidade nos serviços de saúde, para disciplina de Libras para graduações em saúde e para educação permanente de profissionais de saúde. Conclui-se que a representação do cuidado à saúde do surdo centraliza-se na dificuldade comunicacional entre profissional de saúde e pessoa surda. A abordagem da temática na graduação e em educação permanente são fundamentais para mudança dessa realidade, assim como garantir acessibilidade nas unidades de saúde.

Health professionals understand very little about the deaf community and their health needs. Many beliefs based on common sense can influence the conceptions about this group, with consequences in the care process. In this sense, knowing the social representations of health professionals about the care for deaf people and its potential repercussions on health care can contribute to new acts of care, as well as implementation of public policies for social inclusion and training in the health field. In order to understand this gap, a qualitative research was developed, with application of the Theory of Social Representations in its procedural approach. In-depth interviews were carried out with 37 health professionals from a hospital in Rondônia State, amongt which there were nurses, doctors, physical therapists, and nursing technicians. The data from this in-depth interview were analyzed using Alceste 2012 and the characterization instrument of the participants was submitted to statistical analysis. Thematic content analysis was applied to the material that was not used by the lexical analysis performed by Alceste. As results, after running the software, the corpus was divided into three classes. Class 1 resulted in the theme "Care for the deaf in the health service: a silenced clamor", which presents the social representations of health care for the deaf person, its symbolic dimension, associated with the interdiction of communication, affective, showing suffering, anguish and fear in attending deaf users, as well as behavioral, by moving away, avoiding attending or devoting more time and attention during care and lastly attitudinal, in which professionals used their arsenal of strategies in an attempt to establish communication during care, either through lip reading, companion, written Portuguese, gestures, among other strategies. Block 2 resulted in the theme "Demands of health professionals on deaf care" and included the Class 2 - "The care of now: what professionals demand" in which the needs of professionals for care to the deaf were pointed out, situated temporally in the present and Class 3 - "The care of the future: what training needs", situated in the future, in what can be done during the training of citizens and health professionals to improve the social inclusion of deaf people in society. From the results found and the discussion with the literature, we developed intervention proposals for qualification of health care for deaf people with a view to accessibility in health services, for offering the course of Libras for graduates in health and continuing education for health professionals. It is concluded that the representation of health care for deaf people is centered on the difficulty of communication between health professionals and deaf people. The approach of the theme in undergraduate and continuing education is essential to change this reality, as well as to ensure accessibility in health units.

Los profesionales de la salud conocen poco sobre la comunidad sorda, sus necesidades de salud. Las creencias basadas en el sentido común pueden influir en las concepciones sobre este grupo, con consecuencias en el proceso de cuidado. En este sentido, conocer las representaciones sociales de los profesionales de la salud sobre el cuidado de las personas sordas y las posibles repercusiones en el cuidado de la salud puede, contribuir con nuevos actos de cuidado, implementación de políticas públicas de inclusión social y de formación en el campo de la salud. Para ello, se desarrolló una investigación de carácter cualitativo, con aplicación de la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales en su enfoque procesal. Se realizó una entrevista en profundidad con 37 profesionales de la salud de un hospital del Estado de Rondônia, Brasil, entre ellos enfermeros, médicos, fisioterapeutas y técnicos de enfermería. Los datos provenientes de la entrevista en profundidad fueron analizados por medio del Alceste 2012 y los procedentes del instrumento de caracterización de los participantes fueron sometidos al análisis estadístico. En el material no aprovechado por el análisis léxico realizado por Alceste se aplicó el análisis contenido temático. Como resultados, después del rodaje en el software, el corpus se dividió en tres clases. La Clase 1 resultó en el tema "Cuidado al sordo en el servicio de salud: un clamor silenciado", que muestra representaciones sociales del cuidado de la salud de la persona sorda, su dimensión simbólica, asociada a la interdicción de la comunicación; afectiva, manifestando sufrimiento, angustia y temor de atender a los usuarios sordos, conductuales, al apartarse, evitar atender o dedicar más tiempo y atención durante el cuidado y actitudinal, en que los profesionales se utilizaban de su arsenal de estrategias en el intento de establecer comunicación durante el atendimiento, sea por medio de lectura labial, acompañante, portugués escrito, gestos, entre otros. El bloque 2 resultó en el tema "Demandas de los profesionales de salud sobre el cuidado al sordo" y abarcó la Clase 2 - "El cuidado de ahora: lo que los profesionales demandan" en donde fueron señaladas las necesidades de los profesionales para atender a los sordos situados temporalmente en el presente y la Clase 3 - "El cuidado del futuro: lo que la formación necesita", situada en el futuro, en lo que se puede hacer durante la formación del ciudadano y del profesional de la salud para mejorar la inclusión social de personas sordas en la sociedad. A partir de los resultados encontrados y de la discusión con la literatura, se elaboraron propuestas de intervención para la calificación del cuidado de la salud de personas sordas con énfasis a la accesibilidad en los servicios de salud, para la asignatura de Libras (Lengua de Señas Brasileña) para carreras del área de la salud y para la educación permanente de profesionales de la salud. Se concluye que la representación del cuidado a la salud del sordo se centra en la dificultad comunicacional entre profesional de salud y persona sorda. El enfoque de la temática en la carrera y en educación permanente son fundamentales para cambiar esa realidad, así como garantizar accesibilidad en las unidades de salud.

Information about COVID-19 for deaf people: an analysis of Youtube videos in Brazilian sign language / Información sobre COVID-19 para sordos: análisis de videos de youtube en lengua de signos brasileña / Informações sobre COVID-19 para surdos: análise de vídeos do youtube em língua brasileira de sinais

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze YouTube videos with information about COVID-19 in Brazilian sign language. Methods: a cross-sectional study conducted with 402 videos from the YouTube sharing platform. Chi-square, Fisher's exact, Mann-Whitney and Spearman's correlation tests were used. Results: the videos mainly covered COVID-19 prevention (20.6%). There was a positive correlation between video length and number of views (p<0.001). The length of more than 20 minutes was associated with narration only in BSL (p=0.37) and in BSL with audio (p<0.001), while videos with less than 20 minutes were associated with simultaneous narration in BSL, audio and subtitles. Those with narration only in BSL had a similar number of views to those narrated with subtitles and/or audio (p=0.998). Conclusion: the videos were mostly short and included COVID-19 prevention. The longer the video, the greater the number of views. Regardless the presentation of narrations, the videos had a similar number of views.

RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar videos de YouTube con información sobre COVID-19 en lengua de signos brasileña. Métodos: estudio transversal, con 402 videos de la plataforma de intercambio de YouTube. Se utilizaron pruebas de Chi-Cuadrado, Exacta de Fisher, Mann-Whitney y Correlación de Spearman. Resultados: los videos cubrieron principalmente la prevención de COVID-19 (20,6%). Hubo una correlación positiva entre la duración y el número de visualizaciones del video (p<0,001). La duración de más de 20 minutos se asoció con la narración solo en lengua de signos (p=0,37) y en lengua de signos con audio (p<0,001), mientras que los videos con menos de 20 minutos se asociaron con la narración simultánea en lengua de signos, audio y subtítulos. Aquellos con narración solo en lengua de signos tuvieron un número de vistas similar a los narrados con subtítulos y/o audio (p=0,998). Conclusión: los videos fueron en su mayoría cortos e incluyeron la prevención de COVID-19. Cuanto más largo sea el video, mayor será la cantidad de vistas. Independientemente de la presentación de las narraciones, los videos tuvieron un número similar de visualizaciones.

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar vídeos do YouTube com informações sobre COVID-19 em língua brasileira de sinais. Métodos: estudo transversal, com 402 vídeos da plataforma de compartilhamentos YouTube. Foram utilizados testes Qui-Quadrado, Exato de Fisher, Mann-Whitney e Correlação de Spearman. Resultados: os vídeos contemplaram, sobretudo, a prevenção da COVID-19 (20,6%). Houve correlação positiva entre duração e número de visualizações do vídeo (p<0,001). A duração superior a 20 minutos se associou à narração somente em Libras (p=0,37) e em Libras com áudio (p<0,001), enquanto vídeos com menos de 20 minutos se associaram com narração simultânea em Libras, áudio e legenda. Aqueles com narração somente em Libras tiveram número de visualizações semelhantes aos narrados com legenda e/ou áudio (p=0,998). Conclusão: os vídeos eram, na maioria, curtos e contemplavam prevenção da COVID-19. Quanto maior a duração do vídeo, maior o número de visualizações. Independente da apresentação das narrações, os vídeos possuíam número de visualizações semelhantes.

Construção de vídeo sobre uso dos preservativos para surdos e ouvintes / Construction of a video about condom use for deaf and hearing people

RESUMO Objetivo: construir tecnologia assistiva, no formato de vídeo, para surdos e ouvintes sobre saúde sexual e o uso do preservativo. Métodos: estudo metodológico constituído das etapas de pré-produção, produção e pós-produção. Na pré-produção construiu-se roteiro, storybord e cenas, seguindo os princípios da Teoria da Aprendizagem de Lev Semenovich Vygotsky. Na produção houve o desenvolvimento da animação e gravação das cenas pelo intérprete de Libras. Na pós-produção ocorreu a edição final do vídeo. Resultados: o vídeo "Preservativo: aprenda a usar corretamente", com duração de nove minutos e 25 segundos discorre sobre o sistema sexual e reprodutivo do homem e da mulher; modo de ação, benefícios e cuidados com o uso do preservativo. Diante da escassez de materiais educativos sobre o tema, empregaram-se recursos de acessibilidade para construir um vídeo para surdos e ouvintes. Conclusão: a construção do vídeo como tecnologia assistiva dirigida aos surdos foi realizada com êxito.

ABSTRACT Objective: to build assistive technology, in video format, for deaf and hearing people about sexual health and condom use. Methods: methodological study consisting of the stages of pre-production, production and post-production. In pre-production we built the script, storyboard and scenes, following the principles of Lev Semenovich Vygotsky's Theory of Learning. In production there was the development of the animation and recording of the scenes by the Libras interpreter. In post-production the final editing of the video took place. Results: the video "Condom: learn to use correctly", lasting nine minutes and 25 seconds discusses the sexual and reproductive system of man and woman; mode of action, benefits and care with the use of condoms. Given the scarcity of educational materials on the subject, accessibility resources were used to build a video for deaf and hearing people. Conclusion: the construction of the video as an assistive technology directed to the deaf was successfully accomplished.

Políticas de saúde e concepções de surdez e de deficiência auditiva no SUS: um monólogo? / Health policies and definitions of deafness and hearing impairment in the SUS: a monologue? / Políticas de salud y concepciones de sordera y deficiencia auditiva en el SUS: ¿un monólogo?

Duas concepções teóricas são centrais na discussão sobre a deficiência auditiva e a surdez: a orgânico-biológica e a socioantropológica. Elas são fundamentalmente distintas na definição de uma hipotética fronteira da normalidade e no entendimento dos surdos como uma minoria linguística. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de identificar como essas concepções se expressaram nas políticas de saúde voltadas às pessoas com deficiência auditiva/surdez no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Foi realizada um pesquisa documental com foco nas políticas de saúde voltadas à deficiência auditiva/surdez de 1990 a 2019. Os documentos (n = 185) foram identificados na Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde e no Sistema de Legislação da Saúde. Desses, foram selecionados 11 que versavam sobre normativas de implementação tecnológica ou ação prática na assistência com foco na deficiência auditiva/surdez, os demais tinham caráter fundamentalmente pontual. Os resultados evidenciam que todas as políticas analisadas foram pautadas na concepção orgânico-biológica, pois nenhuma referência às particularidades linguísticas e culturais do surdo foi identificada. Essa lógica pode contribuir para dificultar o acesso dessa população ao sistema de saúde, especialmente ao aumentar a barreira comunicacional. Para que de fato se cumpram os princípios doutrinários do SUS é central que as políticas de saúde incorporem os aspectos socioculturais, refletindo em suas formulações o surdo como um cidadão que apreende o mundo pelas vivências e experiências prioritariamente visuais, no qual a língua de sinais é elemento central.

Two theoretical definitions are central to the discussion on hearing impairment and deafness: the organic/biological definition and the social/anthropological definition. They differ essentially in the definition of a hypothetical boundary of normality and in the understanding of deaf individuals as a linguistic minority. This study aimed to identify how these definitions were expressed in the health policies for persons with hearing impairment/deafness in the Brazillian Unified National Health System (SUS). A document survey was performed with a focus on health policies for hearing impairment/deafness from 1990 to 2019. The documents (n = 185) were identified through the Virtual Health Library and Health Legislation System, 11 of which were selected that dealt with rulings on technological implementation or practical action in care with a focus on hearing impairment/deafness (the rest dealt with specific administrative issues). The results show that all 11 policies were based on the organic/biological conception, since no reference was found to deaf individuals' linguistic and cultural specificities. The logic may hinder access by this population to the health system, especially by increasing the communication barrier. In order to meet the principles of the SUS in practice, it is essential for health policies to incorporate sociocultural aspects, respecting deaf individuals as citizens who interact with the world mainly through their visual experiences, where sign language is a central element.

Dos concepciones teóricas son centrales en la discusión sobre deficiencia auditiva y sordera: la orgánico-biológica y la socio-antropológica. Ambas son fundamentalmente distintas en la definición de una hipotética frontera entre la normalidad y la concepción de los sordos como minoría lingüística. El objetivo de este trabajo fue identificar como ambas concepciones se expresaron en las políticas de salud, dirigidas a las personas con deficiencia auditiva/sordera, en el Sistema Único de Salud (SUS). Se realizó una investigación documental centrada en las políticas de salud, dirigidas a la deficiencia auditiva/sordera de 1990 a 2019. Los documentos (n = 185) se identificaron a partir de la Biblioteca Virtual en Salud y del Sistema de Legislación de la Salud, de estos fueron seleccionados 11, que versaban sobre normativas de implementación tecnológica o acción práctica en la asistencia, centrándose en la deficiencia auditiva/sordera, los demás tenían un carácter fundamentalmente puntual. Los resultados evidencian que todas las políticas analizadas se pautaban por la concepción orgánico-biológica, puesto que no se identificó ninguna referencia a las particularidades lingüísticas y culturales del sordo. Esta lógica puede contribuir a dificultar el acceso de esta población al sistema de salud, especialmente al aumentar la barrera comunicativa. De hecho, para que se cumplan los principios doctrinarios del SUS es central que las políticas de salud incorporen aspectos socioculturales, reflejando en sus formulaciones sobre los sordos un tratamiento donde se les considere ciudadanos, que aprehenden el mundo mediante vivencias y experiencias prioritariamente visuales, en el que la lengua de signos es un elemento central.