Navigating in silence: A mixed methods study exploring the experiences of patients with hearing loss in Danish...

Research globally shows that individuals with hearing loss (HL) often experience dissatisfaction with healthcare due to poor communication, limited interpreter access, and insufficient provider training. Additionally, stigma, cultural attitudes, and accessibility barriers compromise care. However, research on this patient population in a Danish context remains scarce.

The aim was to explore and describe the experiences of patients with HL during their interactions with healthcare professionals in Danish Hospitals.

A cross-sectional mixed-method design with a convergent parallel approach was used to collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative questionnaire responses from individuals with HL.

311 respondents with HL responded to the questionnaire. 93% were deaf or had a profound/severe HL. Approximately half were dissatisfied with how they could contact the hospital and did not feel included in conversations. About one-third reported insufficient information about care and treatment, while approximately one fourth felt excluded from decision-making. A similar number reported that responses were not provided with compassion, and felt they were not treated with respect. Three themes were identified in the qualitative analysis: 1) Patient experiences of communication and access to hospital care, 2) The impact of communication challenges and healthcare professionals' attitudes on the quality of meetings, and 3) Experiencing inequality and exclusion in healthcare due to communication barriers and attitudes towards patients with HL.

This study highlights significant communication barriers faced by patients with HL in Denmark, emphasizing the urgent need for improved hospital access, inclusion of interpreter and healthcare staff training to ensure equitable, patient-centered care for people with HL.