Perception of the Impact of COVID-19 on a Sample of Spaniards with Hearing Disabilities

Abstract

This paper describes an empirical study carried out with 40 Spanish deaf people, users of sign language, between 19 and 45 years of age, which gathers their perceptions of aspects related to the incidence of the COVID-19 pandemic and its repercussions. During the pandemic, people with hearing disabilities, among other groups, were forgotten. They suffered from accessibility problems to the information issued by the authorities, violating their right to be informed and exposing their health to COVID-19. In this work, we identify the problems they suffered and what effects COVID- 19 had on their lives. This will help to take the appropriate measures to restore their rights and design policies and strategies to deal with any new future health emergency. For this, an ad hoc questionnaire was designed, adapted to easy reading and sign language. This was publicized via email and WhatsApp through the Association of Deaf People of Granada and Province (Spain) and was responded to online and by video call with the collaboration of sign language interpreters using the LimeSurvey platform. The results discover (1) the difficulties of communication barriers in the relationship with health professionals and institutions, as well as in the spheres of work and education, (2) similarities with the rest of the population in the negative effects of confinement, and (3) presence of positive effects, such as the development of positive activities and emotions. The study highlights the need to increase economic and institutional support aimed at improving coping resources, access to information, and the reduction of social and institutional barriers that would allow people with hearing disabilities to successfully face future health problems of a global nature such as that experienced with COVID-19.