Improving Dental Outcomes for People with Dual Sensory Impairment: Essential Strategies for Patients With Hearing or Vision Loss

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As a dental professional, you contribute a vital role in promoting overall health and wellness—often being one of the few healthcare providers your patients see regularly. This makes your ability to recognize and respond to dual sensory impairment (DSI) in your patients even more important, especially as hearing and vision loss changes become more common with age.

Why Sensory Loss Matters in Dentistry

Older adults with hearing and vision loss—often referred to as experiencing dual sensory impairment (DSI)—face unique challenges that can lead to an impact on oral health outcomes. Studies have shown that communication barriers can lead to missed appointments, incomplete treatment understanding, and even avoidance of dental visits altogether.

A 2022 Frontiers in Oral Health study highlights that older adults with hearing or vision loss are more likely to have poor oral health, difficulty accessing dental care, and increased treatment anxiety. You can read the full research summary here on PubMed Central.

Building Trust Through Communication

Compassionate, culturally competent communication can dramatically improve a patient’s comfort and outcomes.
Simple strategies can make a big difference:

  • Face your patient directly when speaking and make sure your mouth is visible.

  • Lower your pitch rather than raising your volume—yelling distorts speech clarity.

  • Use visual aids such as written instructions, diagrams, or digital displays with large, high-contrast text.

  • Offer tactile cues when possible—for example, gently guiding a hand to indicate where to sit or how to position during treatment.

  • Confirm understanding with yes/no or multiple-choice questions, rather than open-ended ones.

These techniques not only enhance patient comprehension but also demonstrate respect and inclusivity—two key principles in ethical, patient-centered care.

The Takeaway

As sensory loss increases with age, inclusive and ethical communication becomes essential—not just for compliance, but for compassion. By improving how you connect with patients who experience hearing or vision loss, you can reduce stress, improve adherence to care plans, and strengthen trust in your dental practice.

All courses are CE-approved for dental staff, including dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants, as well as other healthcare professionals.

Continuing the Mission of Access and Understanding

Adaptability for Life’s cultural competence - ethics continuing education courses focus on helping psychologist, nurses, dentists, doctors, chiropractors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals and families better serve individuals with vision or hearing loss, blindness, deafness and combinations of sensor loss through culturally competent, practical, and engaging continuing education. These are approved by Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

For those seeking to enhance their skills in communicating with those who have vision or hearing loss, consider enrolling.

2-Hour Cultural Competence CE: Effective Communication with Clients Who Are Hard of Hearing
4-Hour Cultural Competence and Ethics CE: Understanding the Diversity of Legal Blindness, Impacts & Solutions
6-Hour Cultural Competence and Ethics CE: Providing Culturally Competent Healthcare for Those Aging with Dual Sensory Impairments

Each course blends over 25 years of experience in rehabilitation counseling and disability services with lived insight and real-world examples. You’ll walk away with tools that help prevent social isolation, improve connection and communication, and foster hope—even in the face of progressive sensory loss.

What You’ll Gain

  • Strategies to prevent social isolation and despair

  • Tools to support clients experiencing progressive loss

  • Skills to improve communication and connection

  • Easy, low- or no-cost accessibility techniques

  • Real-world examples you can apply immediately

About the Instructor

Deb Marinos, MS, CRC, LPC, is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor, and CMBM Mind-Body Skills Group Facilitator. She brings decades of teaching experience with health care professionals and other working with individuals navigating sensory loss and disability. Her courses are designed to be interactive, helpful, and will give you more comfort in your work.

Take the Next Step

If you’re ready to strengthen your skills, deepen your empathy, and make your practice more inclusive—join Deb and Olaf on this journey.

👉 Explore the Cultural Competence & Ethics accredited continuing education courses and sign up today at Adaptability for Life


Adaptability for Life LLC
21887 SW Sherwood Blvd. STE C
Sherwood, OR 97140
deb@adaptabilityforlife.com