Dialogue matters. Exploring Deaf people's research experiences in Poland.
Tomasz Krawczyk, Jan Piasecki, Rafał Bołdys and 6 others
PMID 41729613WHAT IT FOUND
Deaf participants described research as often inaccessible and culturally insensitive, citing jargon, lack of sign language support, and feeling judged.
They valued science for empowerment but stressed that trust, plain language, and genuine dialogue are prerequisites for meaningful participation.
Key findings
01Participants reported that scientific jargon and unadapted materials make research inaccessible, even when translated into sign language, leading to misunderstandings and data inaccuracy.
02Past experiences of audism, lack of cultural awareness, and feeling observed or judged by hearing researchers created distrust and reluctance to participate in future studies.
03Participants emphasized that trust is built through prior community presence, fluent sign language communication, and ensuring privacy, rather than just during the study itself.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was skewed towards younger adults (75% aged 18-39) and those with higher education and strong written Polish skills, potentially excluding those with lower literacy or older Deaf individuals. The online format may have limited the depth of responses and the ability to build personal trust between researchers and participants. The hearing-led team may have inadvertently discouraged the use of signed video responses, resulting in a low uptake (6%) of this option despite calls for it. The study is situated in the specific cultural and linguistic context of Poland, so findings may not generalize to other Deaf communities. Participatory analysis was constrained by organizational limits, meaning the Deaf advisory team did not conduct the full thematic analysis independently.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the National Science Center, Poland, and Jagiellonian University Medical College. No specific conflicts of interest were declared by the authors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that providing an interpreter or translating materials into sign language is sufficient for accessibility. The paper shows that participants still felt excluded by scientific jargon and a lack of cultural understanding, and that trust must be built through community presence and respectful dialogue before research begins.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →