Issues in Providing Mental Health Services to Hearing-Impaired Persons

Interest in the mental health service needs of hearing-impaired persons has expanded over the past 35 years, but the availability and accessibility of clinical services have lagged behind developments in research. Despite federal mandates, deaf Americans' psychiatric and psychosocial needs remain profoundly underserved. The author provides an overview of deaf culture and the deaf community and discusses issues in communication, including use of American Sign Language and interpreters in clinical settings. Diagnostic considerations, clinical assessment strategies, and inpatient, outpatient, educational, and early intervention treatment strategies are explored, and the needs of special populations, including mentally ill offenders, patients with multiple disabilities, and persons with hearing loss in later life are examined.