Consequences for wellbeing
Unmet communication needs also affect people’s wellbeing and independence.
Emotional impacts
Deaf people and people with hearing loss report feeling frustrated, anxious, fearful, depressed, stressed, and exhausted by their experiences of health services in the UK (Healthwatch Rochdale 2025a, Healthwatch Sandwell 2023, Healthwatch Stoke on Trent 2016, Parmar et al. 2025, RNID and SignHealth 2025, Terry Meara and England 2024).
95% of sign language users find it stressful to access NHS services due to having to fight for their communication needs (RNID and SignHealth 2025). Being unable to book appointments for example, can lead to “massive anxiety” or people avoiding making appointments at all (Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire 2023).
Case studies from grey literature illustrate the impact inaccessible healthcare can have on deaf people and people with hearing loss in already stressful situations.
One person reported their ten-year-old daughter being asked to interpret instead of a qualified British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter, leading to their daughter becoming “overwhelmed” and “upset” (Healthwatch Warrington 2023).
In another case, a deaf sign language user had access to an interpreter during their operation, but not afterwards. They recalled being “dizzy and dazed” and “really emotional and upset”, crying with happiness when an interpreter was eventually provided (Healthwatch Gloucestershire 2022).
Deaf people and people with hearing loss may not understand the information they are given about diagnoses with high emotional impact, further exacerbating the impact on their wellbeing:
I went into A&E for blood loss, but no interpreters turned up after asking several times. I went through so many tests and wasn’t sure what it was all about. I was given medication, but I refused because I didn’t know why I needed them.
The staff seemed gobsmacked, so I took it and was not sure how serious it was. The next thing a nurse took me into a bereavement room and sat me down with a leaflet that said ‘miscarriages’. I was in shock. They had not explained what the test was for. It was a massive misunderstanding and lack of communication. – Female, 35-44, sign language user, quoted in RNID and SignHealth (2025)
These issues also affect deaf people with unwell family members, such as one person who struggles when visiting A&E departments because of his experience when his wife, who later died, was admitted to A&E without communication support to let him know what was happening (Healthwatch Stoke 2017).
Access to interpreters is inconsistent and can significantly impact deaf people’s experiences of healthcare.
Failures to consistently provide interpreters in emergency situations at short notice results in mistrust among deaf sign language users, directed both at interpreter services and hospitals (Foltz and Shank 2020).
Only 17% of sign language users agree that deaf people and people with hearing loss can trust the NHS (RNID and SignHealth 2025) alongside 13% of those who require another type of communication support professional, and 29% of those who need other reasonable adjustments.
Privacy and independence
Inadequate and unreliable access to qualified BSL interpreters can lead to deaf sign language users relying on interpretation by family members and friends, including being asked to do so by healthcare professionals.
This is not an appropriate option, and results in significant negative consequences for deaf people’s privacy and independence when accessing their healthcare, as well as risking mistakes (Healthwatch Barnet 2021, Healthwatch East Riding of Yorkshire and Kingston upon Hull, Healthwatch Lancashire 2025, Healthwatch Sandwell 2023, Parmar et al. 2025, RNID and SignHealth 2025). Moreover, this approach assumes all deaf people have a strong support network available (Terry Meara and England 2024).
Deaf sign language users describe the involvement of family members in their healthcare as embarrassing, depressing, and demeaning (Healthwatch East Riding of Yorkshire and Kingston upon Hull 2022, Healthwatch Sandwell 2023).
56% of sign language users surveyed had relied on a partner, other family members or friends to interpret or relay information at appointments, including 18% of sign language users relying on their children (RNID and SignHealth 2025).
They tell me I must have someone with me. They have robbed me of my independence and dignity and it is terribly upsetting. With reasonable adjustments I could manage my own healthcare but the NHS does not care. – Female, 55-64, needs other reasonable adjustments such as lipspeakers, Speech-to-Text Reporters (STTR) and note takers, quoted in RNID and SignHealth 2025).
Interpreting for a family member can have significant emotional consequences for all involved.
Access to communication support professionals allows deaf sign language users to maintain their privacy and independence, whilst removing a significant emotional burden from family members who may otherwise have to communicate complex, sensitive, and at times upsetting information.