Communication kit for patients who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Kit for patients who are Deaf | Kit for patients who are Hard of Hearing

A hospital communication kit is available for patients who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. It contains valuable information and items to help overcome communication difficulties which may be experienced during an admission or outpatient visit to hospital. You can choose to use what will best help you from the kit.

Communication kits are available free of charge from the Interpreter Services office on the ground floor of Building 15 or the Audiology Department in Building 7. The kit contains:

useful hospital words in Auslan (Australian Sign Language)
communication alert sign for staff to put on your patient bedside chart
hearing aid / cochlear implant information brochure
page of stickers—to let staff know you are Deaf or hard of hearing
plastic zip-lock bag for holding hearing aids
visual pain scale—to help explain how you are feeling
pen for writing short messages
feedback form—for you to tell us what you thought of the kit.

The communication kit is also available for you to print out before coming to hospital by going to the relevant links below. Print whatever you need from the kit. It is a good idea to bring with you a small box or bag for holding your hearing aids as well as a paper and pen.

For patients who use sign language, you will require a qualified interpreter. Asking a relative, friend or untrained person to interpret is often not in your best interest, as this person may not interpret accurately.