What am I required to do under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to accommodate patients who are hearing impaired?
Appropriate auxiliary aids and services may include qualified interpreters, assistive listening devices, note takers, and written materials for individuals with hearing impairments, qualified readers, taped texts, and Braille or large print material. The ADA does not require modifications that would fundamentally alter the nature of the services provided or result in an “undue burden” on the provider. What constitutes an “undue burden” is determined on a case-by-case basis. At least one court has found in favor of the plaintiff over the provision of an interpreter for a hearing-impaired patient in a primary care physician’s office.
