Treatment of Deaf Dental Patients
It is highly likely that you may encounter a Deaf patient in your practice.
Description
Given that 1 in 6 Australians have some form of hearing loss and that there are approximately 20,000 native Auslan (Australian sign language) users, it is highly likely that you may encounter a Deaf patient in your practice. This presentation aims to provide dental professionals with information and tools to treat Deaf community members, in a culturally-sensitive manner.
Presenters
Dr Scott Santarossa (DMD, UWA) is a general dentist working across two clinics in Perth, WA. He completed a Certificate 2 & 3 in Auslan,and has published research relating to the management of Deaf patients in a dental setting. He also regularly treats Deaf Auslan users in his practice.
Learning objectives
Topics include:
A brief history and background about the Australian Deaf community
The role of interpreters
Tools and tips for making your dental clinic more ‘Deaf-friendly’ How to approach appointments with a Deaf patient in your chair.