Do dentists have to provide sign language interpreters for the hearing impaired?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (AwDA) defines a dental office as a public accommodation. Therefore, dental offices cannot discriminate against individuals with disabilities such as hearing loss. The AwDA requires dentists to provide care for patients with disabilities and to establish ways to communicate so they can understand. There are a variety of ways to communicate with a deaf or hearing-impaired patient. For example, using written notes, pictures or models to discuss the patient’s condition and recommended treatment. Office computers are also useful in carrying on a conversation with a hearing-impaired patient. Some hearing-impaired individuals are very adept at reading lips and prefer to be spoken to. The best approach may be to let the patient indicate the form of communication he/she prefers. There may be times when using a sign language interpreter is appropriate. For example, it may be advisable to use an interpreter when providing complex or extensive information to ob
