Experiences of People Who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing During Emergencies in OECD Countries: A Scoping Study

Abstract This scoping study integrates research on the experiences of deaf, Deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) people during extreme weather events and other emergencies in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. The review identified 48 articles published between January 2005 and August 2024. Data charting and inductive analysis of these articles identified three factors that influence access to and participation in communication during emergencies: (1) emergency warnings, alerts, and announcements; (2) the emergency sector response; and (3) emergency preparedness. There are opportunities to leverage capabilities and facilitators to address common barriers and support increased accessibility and inclusion for DHH people before, during, and after emergencies. These include ensuring that warnings and alerts are provided in multiple formats and channels; providing training for first responders in communicating with DHH people; including the diverse needs of DHH people in emergency plans at all levels; and ensuring that training and educational materials are accessible and relevant to DHH people. There are roles for DHH community organizations and the hearing care sector to link DHH individuals with information, education, and training provided by the emergency sector. For many DHH people who do not have connections with support organizations or other DHH people, the hearing care sector may be the only linkage point between their deafness or hearing difficulties, their hearing devices, and their personal emergency awareness and preparedness.