Department of Science and Mathematics, National Technical Institute for the Deaf, United States
Case Report
Sign Language Integration in Dental Education: A Qualitative Case Study
Author(s): Grace M. Phelan* and Elizabeth W. Ayers
Objectives: There exists many communication barriers for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) patients receiving dental care. Providers can address this inequity and offer better care by using sign language. However, there are few instances of sign language or deaf culture courses in dental school curriculums. Only one unique curriculum at The University of the West Indies (UWI) dental school, Mona Jamaica, includes mandatory courses in sign language and deaf culture as well as clinical application of sign language. This study is intended to investigate this curriculum, determine the effectiveness of sign language training for dental students, and assess the longevity of its impacts.
Methods: Performed in 2024, this study included a semi structured interview with a professor who contributed to development of the sign language program at UWI, and ques.. View More»
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