Breaking cultural barriers to health care : the voice of the deaf

This study, in collaboration with the Montreal Deaf Community, used an anthropological perspective to explore the health care experiences of deaf persons and identify the strategies they use to meet their health needs. Narratives were qualitatively analyzed. Deaf persons see their world as separate from the hearing world of health services. The latter is perceived as lacking understanding of deaf persons, leading to their feeling of exclusion and powerlessness. What is supposed to be a source of support becomes one of anxiety. Nevertheless, deaf people show courage and versatility in coping strategies including affiliation and the notion of culture. The health system focus on 'normalization' contradicts deaf persons' perceptions of deafness as a meaningful human reality. The differing values have implications for health professionals and the organization of services. The McGill Model of Nursing offers an organizational framework for planning accessible health services for deaf persons