To examine literature on cultural competence in audiology services for Deaf adult sign language users, identifying themes, evidence gaps, and systemic barriers to inclusive care.
Audiologists serving Deaf sign language users should audit their cultural competence practices — this review identifies systemic gaps in training and inclusive service delivery that warrant attention now.
Deaf sign language users represent a distinct cultural and linguistic community whose needs are consistently underserved in audiology, and addressing this gap is both an ethical and clinical imperative.
- 01Scoping review published in International Journal of Audiology (2026).
- 02Examines cultural competence of audiology services for Deaf adult sign language users.
- 03Identifies systemic barriers including lack of trained interpreters and cultural awareness.
- 04Highlights significant evidence gaps in the literature on this topic.
- 05Calls for improved training and inclusive service delivery in audiology.
Audiology services systematically lack cultural competence for Deaf adult sign language users.
studysupportedThere are significant evidence gaps regarding best practices for serving Deaf sign language users in audiology.
studysupported- PMID
- 42113969
- DOI
- 10.1080/14992027.2026.2660209.
- Journal
- International Journal of Audiology
- Publication type
- review
- Evidence level
- 2a
- Population
- Deaf adults who use sign language and interact with audiology services
- Intervention
- Cultural competence practices in audiology service delivery
Primary outcomes
Themes in cultural competence practices; Identification of evidence gaps; Systemic barriers to inclusion