Table 3.

Cumulative ranking of most frequently listed perceived problems that hospitalized deaf patients may encounter in a hospital setting

1. Communication with personnel other than provider (e.g., dietician, janitor, etc.)
2. Emergency or warnings
3. Emotions (fear/confusion)
4. Understanding terms and medical knowledge
5. Knowledge of rights and interpreter services
6. Awareness of activities in hospitals heard in announcements
7. Maltreatment or mistreatment by medical staff
8. Privacy issues
9. Circumstances that inhibit communication (e.g., vision impairments or immobility of hands)
10. Difficulty with the radio or television
11. Limited medical knowledge/lack of health literacy
12. Contacting family and friends
13. Social support
14. Distrust of providers
15. Decreased awareness of surroundings (e.g. People in the room, coming up from behind)
Top three reported problems by group
DCT-medical students	Medical school faculty	Non-DCT medical students
1.Understanding medical language (19%)	1.Communication (33%)	1.Communication (22%)
2.Communication (17%)	2.Emergency or warnings (19%)	2.Emergency or warnings (24%)
3.Maltreatment or mistreatment by medical staff (17%)	3.Emotions such as fear or confusion (15%)	3.Emotions such as fear or confusion (12%)