New resources to help deaf teenagers access GP appointments
Deaf teenagers are having to rely on parents to help them access health services, according to a new campaign by the National Deaf Children’s Socitery.
Deaf teenagers are relying on their parents to access basic information about their own health, according to a new campaign launched today [Tuesday 4 February] by the National Deaf Children’s Society.
The My Life, My Health campaign, was created to help get deaf teenagers the support they need when it comes to accessing GP surgeries.
A lack of deaf awareness and support, results in young people missing appointments if they are unable to hear their name being called.
Surgery staff and health professionals have also been found to struggle during both consultation and the booking in stages due to a lack of sign language interpreters being available.
Dorset mother, Helen Armstrong, has a 15 year old daughter who was diagnosed as deaf at 9 months old, she said: “As a mother of a deaf child the National Deaf Children’s Society’s findings really concern me. Until recently I have attended my daughter’s GP appointments with her to ensure she understands everything that she’s told. But it is so important to me that Lucy is able to become more independent as she grows up. Deaf young people must be supported and able to access health support by themselves. If they can’t, they might delay seeing their GP about a serious health problem because they’re embarrassed to go to an appointment with their parent.”
The National Deaf Children’s Society and its Young People’s Advisory Board have created a range of resources for parents of deaf teenagers, deaf teenagers to help them support their children and in turn help them manage their own GP appointments.
More information and resources, can be found at www.ndcs.org.uk/mylifemyhealth