Working with medical and dental equipment

Professionals working in the medical and dental fields require adequate hearing for communicating effectively with patients to determine appropriate care. As part of determining diagnosis and treatment various instruments may be used requiring the use of hearing, for example stethoscopes in assessing cardiovascular health.

Workplace adjustments and solutions

A range of strategies and equipment are available for those with a hearing impairment, to ensure accurate information can still be obtained and appropriate diagnoses determined, including:

• when taking patient history or asking pertinent information, sit or stand facing the patient and ensure you can clearly see the mouth, facial expressions and body gestures used to assist in describing symptoms
• use visual documents in which patients can indicate on a printed picture of the body or mouth where there pain is
• request ongoing education videos with captions
• if attending medical conferences, request real time captioning on any videos, copies of lecture notes in written format, use of audio loop induction systems or alternative assistive listening systems for clearer sound and less distortion
• request agendas for meetings and read subsequent minutes to confirm the information discussed
• use the attending room with the least amount of background noise. See link below for more information:
• controlling noise within the workplace

There are a number of products available for people who have hearing difficulties working in the medical and dental fields.

• A range of telephones can be sourced that have an amplified ring tone, volume controls to assist in increasing the loudness of the incoming caller, or a flashing light on the telephone to alert of incoming calls:
• using a telephone (or call centre equipment) 

• A range of hearing aids are available which can assist in amplifying sound and improving communication with patients:
• hearing aids  

• A range of devices are available to assist those that are deaf or hard of hearing to hear especially when in a group. Essentially they are amplifiers that bring sound directly into the ear. They separate the sounds, particularly speech, that you want to hear from background noise. They improve what is known as the 'speech to noise ratio':
• induction loops
• assistive listening systems 

• Visual alert systems such as a flashing light can be placed within the room to advise when patients have arrived, or for use during emergency situations and when evacuation might be required:
• alerts—tactile or visual
• alarm systems—strobe 

• Specific medical equipment adapted for those with hearing impairments is available including stethoscopes that have been amplified, are electronic or have earpieces adapted for ear structure malformations:
• stethoscopes—amplified  

• Digital stethoscopes are available that transmit data to computer based software for interpretation to eliminate the need to ‘hear’ the information:
• auscultation systems—graphic  

• Other equipment such as digital blood pressure and pulse monitors are available to eliminate the need to hear:
• digital read out monitors

Relevant links

• Word of Mouth Technology - Amplified Stethoscopes
• Australian Hearing - Assistive Listening Devices

References

Would you like more information?

• Hearing