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The Study

The study, based on lived experiences of people who are Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss, reveals widespread communication barriers and systemic gaps that often delay or derail appropriate mental health support.Among the findings:

• Communication breakdowns in healthcare settings cause distress and disengagement.
  
• Emotional impacts of hearing loss—including stress, anxiety, and isolation—are often overlooked.
  
• There’s a serious shortage of culturally competent professionals who understand Deaf culture or can communicate effectively using Auslan.
  
• Services remain siloed, with poor coordination between audiology, ENT, and mental health professionals.

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Why This Matters

This matters for the cochlear implant community. For many, the path to implantation comes after years of navigating complex emotional, social, and communication challenges. When mental health care isn’t integrated into hearing services—or when clinicians lack understanding of hearing loss—people may delay seeking help or fall through the cracks entirely.The report recommends practical reforms:

• Include captions, visual aids, and written materials in all care environments.
  
• Design shared care plans that reflect both hearing and mental health needs.
  
• Train professionals in culturally safe, d/Deaf-aware practices.
  
• Involve people with lived experience in shaping services.

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What This Means

At Pindrop Foundation, we support these recommendations wholeheartedly. They validate what we hear regularly from implant candidates and recipients: that true care goes beyond devices. It means recognising the whole person and ensuring that every aspect of care—especially mental health—is accessible, inclusive, and empowering.

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Read the Report

You can read the full report here.

‍You can also access supporting resources on the Deafness Forum Australia’s website.