Effective Strategies to Support Ethnically Diverse Patients with Hearing Loss

Hearing clinics often fail to accurately identify and address the language and cultural needs of patients from diverse backgrounds, leading to disparities in the quality of ear and hearing healthcare. A recent study led by the University of Queensland highlights the importance of culturally responsive approaches in audiology to improve patient outcomes.

Professor Piers Dawes, director of UQ's Center for Hearing Research, spearheaded a project that identified ten practical strategies for audiologists to adopt when caring for patients from various ethnic communities. Findings, published in Ear & Hearing, emphasize that culturally sensitive care is crucial, especially considering that individuals from diverse communities in Australia are up to three times more likely to experience hearing impairment but are less likely to utilize hearing aids or services.

Key strategies include routinely asking patients about their need for interpreters, respecting preferences for male or female clinicians, involving family members during consultations, and thoroughly explaining available options and their benefits and limitations. The research also revealed that many hearing care providers overlook simple yet essential practices, such as inquiring about language needs—an oversight that hampers effective communication and quality care.

Dr. Mansoureh Nickbakht, the study's senior researcher, explained that engaging with community organizations helped gather insights from diverse populations. These insights informed recommendations for clinicians, many of which are straightforward yet underutilized, like checking if patients require language assistance.

Ensuring equitable access to hearing care is pivotal because untreated hearing loss can negatively impact social engagement, education, employment, and personal relationships. The study advocates for clinics across Australia to incorporate these culturally responsive strategies to bridge gaps in audiology services and improve health outcomes for all patients.

The research was conducted in collaboration with Hearing Australia and underscores that fostering culturally competent care is not only a professional imperative but also a step towards social justice in healthcare.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-strategies-ethnically-diverse-patients-loss.html