Garg Suneela, Deshmukh Chetana Prakash, Singh Meghachandra M, Borle Amod, Wilson Blake S
Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi, India.
Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences, Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, North Carolina, US.
Indian J Community Med. 2021 Jan-Mar;46(1):11-14. doi: 10.4103/ijcm.IJCM_581_20. Epub 2021 Mar 1.
Difficulties of the hearing impaired have increased due to COVID-19, leading to lack of inclusiveness along with the breakdown of their mental, physical, and social health. The study objective was to assess the challenges faced by the deaf and hearing-impaired people during COVID-19 by a literature review. Literature search was done using keywords such as "challenges" OR "barriers" and "COVID-19" OR "Deaf" OR "Hearing Impaired" OR "Communication" on PubMed and Google Scholar from November 2019 to June 2020. The challenges faced were lack of information, face mask making communication difficult, social distancing affecting their physical, mental health, stigma and barriers related to the health-care system. Strategies included use of technology, help from sign language instructors, and preparedness of health-care settings for the hearing disabled. System strengthening, tele-medicine, and policy amendments can be the pillars to build up the support system for the hearing impaired to protect them from COVID-19.
由于新冠疫情，听力障碍者面临的困难有所增加，导致他们缺乏包容性，身心健康和社会健康也受到损害。本研究的目的是通过文献综述评估新冠疫情期间聋人和听力障碍者所面临的挑战。在2019年11月至2020年6月期间，通过在PubMed和谷歌学术上使用“挑战”或“障碍”以及“新冠疫情”或“聋人”或“听力障碍者”或“沟通”等关键词进行文献检索。所面临的挑战包括信息匮乏、口罩使沟通变得困难、社交距离影响他们的身心健康、耻辱感以及与医疗保健系统相关的障碍。策略包括使用技术、手语教师的帮助以及医疗机构为听力障碍者做好准备。加强系统、远程医疗和政策修订可以成为建立听力障碍者支持系统以保护他们免受新冠疫情影响的支柱。
