Access to information is essential for using public transport, including finding and understanding timetables, buying tickets, and accessing real-time information while travelling. Deaf people and people with hearing loss cannot access this information when it is provided solely in audio format....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
No actionable clinical change; this advocacy piece informs audiologists about the real-world communication barriers patients face in public settings.
Understanding everyday accessibility gaps helps audiologists contextualise the social and functional impact of hearing loss beyond the clinic.
- 01Audio-only announcements on public transport exclude deaf and hard-of-hearing passengers.
- 02Lack of visual or text-based information is a key accessibility barrier.
- 03This is part of a broader RNID review on public transport access for deaf and hearing-loss communities.
- 04Communication barriers contribute to reduced independence and social participation for passengers with hearing loss.
Deaf people and people with hearing loss are excluded from public transport information when it is provided solely through audio channels.
opinionpartially supported