Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Across the United States there have been historical difficulties in recruiting and retaining an effective behavioral health workforce that is culturally and linguistically prepared to serve the deaf and hard of hearing communities.These challenges include significant gaps in public and professional knowledge and training about hearing loss, accessibility to services, availability of providers and programs designed for their needs, acceptability of care based on historical perceptions of mistreatment, and establishment of mental health policy without consideration of the impact on deaf and hard of hearing communities.