DEAF / AUSLAN EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY

Our Deaf/Auslan Exercise Physiology service is a reflection of a personal journey and a deep commitment to contributing to the betterment of healthcare and awareness within this remarkable community. Fuelled by a passion cultivated through personal experiences and mentorship, we are dedicated to bridging the gap in healthcare access and promoting the holistic well-being of those with hearing impairments.

With a focus on education, tailored exercise physiology, and a profound understanding of the challenges faced, our mission is to empower you on a journey to optimal health, vitality, and inclusion. Keep reading to learn more about Bri’s connection with the deaf community.  

Bri’s Connection with the deaf community

My best mate’s dad (John) is Deaf so growing up they taught me basic Auslan (Australian Sign Language) and I joined them on dinners and camping trips with the Deaf community. John has been like a second dad, and as soon as I decided I wanted to use my profession to help the community, without hesitation he put his hand up to be my Auslan teacher. We still meet up regularly to practice. 

My exposure to the Deaf community growing up has naturally fostered a strong passion for contributing to better healthcare and awareness for the Australian Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) community. The more stories I hear about inequitable healthcare experiences in this population, the stronger my mission becomes. I’m slowly building an army of equally dedicated humans around me that share this passion. I’m extremely privileged to have such an insight into this history-rich community and their language. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve in the years to come. 

My objectives are clear:

• Improve basic cultural awareness of the Deaf/HoH community in health practitioners and the general public by providing education and insight wherever I can. 
• Continue expanding my knowledge on the biopsychosocial health needs of this population & share them with other practitioners.
• Provide culturally sensitive and evidence-based health education and exercise physiology treatment to those who are hearing-impaired.

Through research and experience ive identified a few challenges: 

• Lack of deaf-aware practitioners.
• Susceptibility to certain ailments due to the physical nature of Auslan. For example, overuse injuries are common, and the healing process is complicated because asking them to rest is asking them to not use their language.
• Congenitally Deaf people have a higher incidence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), social isolation, and discrimination, leading to a significantly higher risk of physical and mental illness in adult life. 

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