Perception of the Impact of COVID-19 on a Sample of Spaniards with Hearing Disabilities
Metadata
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MDPI
Materia
Hearing impairment COVID-19 Communication difficulties Deaf people’s perceptions
Date
2023-01-13Referencia bibliográfica
Martínez Sánchez, M.Á.; Muñoz-García, A.; Ros Gil, C. Perception of the Impact of COVID-19 on a Sample of Spaniards with Hearing Disabilities. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 1460. [https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021460]
Sponsorship
European Union, Erasmus+ Programme 2020-1-LT01-KA203-078100; Own Research and Transfer Plan of the University of Granada 2020-30C0.44.71.00Abstract
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.