Did you know over a quarter of Deaf people feel ignored in public spaces? For many, being Deaf isn’t just about communication barriers–it’s about being routinely excluded, overlooked, and misunderstood.
To provide the expert insight is Mr Adnan Darr; a Consultant ENT Surgeon renowned for his work in ENT care. Mr. Darr is dedicated to patient-centred care, taking the time to understand each individual’s needs and making sure they feel respected, supported, and truly listened to at every stage of their treatment–and that’s why this Deaf Awareness Week we are taking the time to promote the message that communication is key.
This is a national conversation we all need to join
1 in 3 people in the UK–that’s around 18 million individuals–are living with some form of hearing loss. It’s a shocking number that’s hard to ignore, yet Deaf and hearing-impaired people are still being left out of conversations, critical services, and even basic human interactions, everyday.
For the 151,000 people who use British Sign Language (BSL)–including the 87,000 registered as Deaf–communication barriers aren’t just frustrating. They’re isolating, disempowering, and, in many cases, preventable.
This is why Deaf Awareness Week is so important. What kind of world are we building if millions of people are still being left out of the conversation?
While hearing loss may not always be visible, its impact is deeply felt.
Many people associate deafness only with total hearing loss, but the spectrum is wide — and often misunderstood. With over 18 million people in the UK affected, the chances are that you interact with someone who is Deaf or hearing-impaired every single day — whether you realise it or not.
Deaf Awareness Week is a crucial reminder that inclusion isn’t just about ramps and lifts — it’s about communication. It’s about making sure people feel seen, heard, and respected, regardless of how they hear or communicate. And one of the places where these communication barriers can have the most serious consequences is within our healthcare system.
Hidden hurdles to accessing healthcare
Deaf people face a range of barriers when accessing healthcare–many of which stem from a lack of communication support and institutional understanding. A shortage of qualified interpreters is one of the most significant issues, often due to financial constraints, logistical challenges, or a lack of awareness around legal responsibilities. Telehealth platforms also pose a challenge, as many do not offer captioning or access to interpreters, making remote consultations difficult or impossible for some. Compounding this is the lack of provider training, which can hinder trust and communication–an issue that could be addressed through mandatory, trust-based training modules. Health information itself is often inaccessible, with educational resources rarely incorporating British Sign Language. Beyond structural issues, attitudinal and discriminatory barriers also persist. Deaf patients are too often spoken to through a family member instead of directly, or worse, ignored altogether. For many, negative past experiences contribute to delayed attendance or even complete avoidance of healthcare services–with potentially serious consequences.
When communication fails, care suffers: the impact
The consequences of poor Deaf awareness are almost always borne by the patient–from misunderstandings during consultations to feeling overlooked in treatment plans.
Waiting rooms and clinical settings often fail to accommodate the communication needs of those with hearing impairments. A lack of visual cues, clear speech, and limited access to interpreters can prevent patients from fully participating in discussions about their health. This can leave them excluded from their own care journey–with real clinical consequences.
Effective communication is essential. As Mr. Darr highlights, when there’s no clear exchange of information–such as symptoms, medical history, concerns, or expectations — key details can be missed. The result? Misdiagnoses, delays in treatment, and care that falls below the standard patients deserve.
Beyond clinical risk, these interactions can erode trust and discourage Deaf patients from seeking future advice or care. The emotional toll is just as significant, with misunderstandings often contributing to anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
“Every interaction and encounter has changed my perception on how to communicate effectively,” Mr. Darr explained. “Frequent eye contact, facial expressions, and hand movements are crucial–as is the positioning and visibility of my mouth,” which supports lip reading.
Small changes in how we communicate can make a world of difference. And for Deaf and hearing-impaired patients, those changes could transform their experience of healthcare entirely:
- Don’t shout – this can often distort the shape of your mouth and make it harder to lip-read
- Don’t look away – your body language and facial expressions are important in conveying what you are saying
- Talk at a moderate pace – when you talk too fast, or too slow, it can distort your lip patterns which makes lip reading harder
- It does matter! – avoiding saying ‘it doesn’t matter’ when asked to repeat yourself, to say it doesn’t matter will further isolate deaf people from the conversation in social settings
- Don’t give up – it might be new for you, but for deaf people, this is a challenge they face every day
Whilst conversations are naturally lengthier and require additional clarity regularly, it is crucial that clinicians do not over-simplify the way in which they communicate with a patient, as this can often feel patronising to the patient.
The reality of everyday exclusion
The statistics around deafness and social exclusion are hard to ignore:
1 in 3 people in the UK live with hearing impairment
Up to a quarter of Deaf people feel ignored in public
67% of hearing-impaired individuals report negative attitudes from retail staff
That rises to 81% among BSL users
56% say they feel disrespected, while 33% report feeling lonely
These are not rare or isolated experiences–they are everyday realities for millions. From shops and cafes to clinics and hospitals, the absence of accessible communication can be profoundly isolating.
And while hearing loss may be invisible, the exclusion it creates is not. By raising awareness, we can begin to break down these barriers and ensure Deaf people are truly included–not just accommodated.
Let’s make communication inclusive, not exclusive
This week, we celebrate the strength, culture, and contributions of the deaf community. It is a time to listen with our hearts, learn with intention, and commit to building a healthcare system where communication is a bridge and not a barrier. Inclusion begins with awareness. Empowerment begins with understanding.
Small, conscious actions can transform someone’s experience, so never underestimate the power of simply taking the time to listen. Because for millions of people, these simple steps can mean the difference between feeling invisible and feeling valued.
Let’s work together to make communication inclusive — not just this week, but every week.
At Birmingham Head and Neck Clinic, we are committed to inclusive, respectful care.
If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss or would like to better understand your options, we’re here to help. Our team provides expert consultations for a wide range of ear, nose and throat concerns, including:
- Comprehensive ENT appointments
- Specialist hearing assessments
- Support for Deaf and hearing-impaired patients
To book a consultation with Mr Adnan Darr or another member of our team, please contact us.