PP604 - How Healthcare Professionals with Hearing Loss Communicate: A Scoping Review of Strategies and Experiences

Abstract: Healthcare professionals with hearing loss use a range of communication strategies to navigate their jobs, but the evidence is not well synthesized and spreads across disciplines. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the extent and nature of research describing communication strategies and accommodations used by healthcare professionals with hearing loss at work. Three databases and one grey literate search engine were included, with articles published since 2009. Findings show a variety of diverse and individualized strategies and challenges in healthcare settings, as well as gaps in research and policy on workplace inclusion and support.

Summary: Rationale/purpose: Communication is important for effective healthcare practice. For healthcare professionals with hearing loss, however, communication demands can be exacerbated by fast-paced environments, dependence on auditory cues, and complex interactions with colleagues and patients. Studies across other professions have demonstrated accommodations from managerial perspectives, but there has been no comprehensive synthesis of how healthcare professionals with hearing loss use communication strategies in the workplace. Most of the existing literature focuses on employer accommodations and legal frameworks instead of the lived experiences of employees themselves. The purpose of this scoping review was to map the breadth of evidence used by healthcare professionals with hearing loss as they report using communication strategies in the workplace. We also were interested in exploring how those strategies related to professional functions, identity at work, and inclusion.

Methods: After consulting with information professionals to design a search that reflected the PCC (Population, Concept, Context) structured research question, three databases and one grey literature search engine were searched with structured searches translated for each database. The search results included studies published since 2009 to reflect the implementation of the 2008 Americans with Disabilities Act amendment. Eligible sources included healthcare professionals with hearing loss and any discussion of communication strategy use within workplace settings. Two authors independently screened titles/abstracts and full texts with conflicts resolved by the third author. Data extraction included study characteristics, participant demographics, work settings, and communication strategies. Findings were summarized and described thematically.

Results: Data analysis is currently in progress but will be completed by early February 2026.

Conclusions: Healthcare professionals with hearing loss use diverse, adaptive communication strategies that allow them to perform job-related functions effectively in various roles. However, challenges remain, which is supported by the fragmented literature revealed in the current review. There is limited research on interprofessional differences, long-term career impacts, and organizational factors that contribute to communication outcomes at work. Future research should include studies on workplace accessibility and interventions that could strengthen equity in healthcare. This review highlights the communication outcomes of healthcare professionals with hearing loss and the need for more inclusivity to support their needs.