SURVEY REPORT WORKSHOP

On Sunday, November 14, 2021, Center for Research and Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CED) organized the online workshop reporting the survey results “Evaluation of Capacity in Meeting the Needs of Patients with Hearing Loss: Case Study of the Vietnam’s Hospital Quality Standard”. There were more than 50 participants joined at the workshop, including representatives from the HCMC Department of Science and Technology, Quang Duc Hearing Aid company, teachers from special schools and parents of children with hearing loss.

The workshop started with the presentation about CED by Ms. To Thi Bich Phuong - Vice Director of CED. Overview about the project “Promoting the initial legal support and implementation of regulations on medical examination and treatment for people with hearing loss (deaf, hard of hearing and deafened)”, sponsored by EU through JIFF-Oxfam, was presented by Ms. Trieu Thuy Mi, the project manager. Then, Ms. Duong Phuong Hanh, Director of CED presented the main points of the survey.

The workshop continued with the dynamic discussion, with questions, and helpful sharing from participants. From the survey and the ideas contributed additionally at the workshop, CED concluded 10 recommendations as following:

Recommendations related to the Vietnam Hospital Quality Standard (VHQS)

1./ The VHQS needs to shift indicator 10 and 11, level 5 of the criterion A2.5 to level 2 or 3.

2./ The VHQS needs to be added with more suitable supporting ways for each HEARING loss disability, through communication by sign language; speaking and hearing through speechreading; writing down in paper; images; video clip; gestures….

3./ The VHQS needs to be added with symbol for people with hearing loss identification in hospitals.

Recommendations related to sign language interpretation/sign language

4./ There should be formal training program on sign language interpretation and policy for sign language interpreters.

5./ Sign language universalizing: schools teach sign language for students.

Recommendations related to skills for assisting people with hearing loss in hospitals

6./ Put the course “Skills for assisting people with hearing loss in hospitals” into the training program for Bachelor degrees in Social Work and Public Health.

7./ Experts from Ministry of Health and HCMC Department of Health need to develop the training program that meets the assessment standard for hospital quality both about time and training quality.

Recommendations related to aiding people with hearing loss in communication

8./ Hearing aids, cochlear implants are put into the lists of items covered by health insurance.

9./ There should be sign language subtitles and Vietnamese subtitles on all TW and HCMC channels.

10./ Universalizing the hearing screening for infants, increasing the chances for early detection, early intervention and early hearing aid wearing.

These recommendations will be brought to discussion at the coming policy dialogue workshop of CED. Let’s wait for the news and register to join us!