Deaf men encouraged to beat prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a major cause of death among older men, and all men are advised to see their doctor if they display any of the symptoms, such as discomfort and the need to pass water several times at night. However, deaf men are more at risk of these symptoms going unnoticed as they are not aware of the help available.
Ignorance and embarrassment are stumbling blocks for many men, but for deaf men who use sign language there is the additional embarrasment of needing to book an interpreter and share personal details with an outsider.
Deaf men need to realize that doctors cannot make an accurate diagnosis unless they have clear and unambiguous information and professional interpreters follow a code of ethics in which confidentiality is both paramount and mandatory.
Nonetheless, all communication is a two-way process and many would like to see more deaf awareness among doctors. If GPs could master even basic sign language - such as 'welcome', 'good morning' and 'good afternoon' - it would help start the ball rolling. An interpreter would still be needed for the important matters that follow but those few signs from the doctor would add an element of familiarity and relaxation to the discussion.
