Deaf trauma survivors are one of the most underserved populations in behavioral healthcare, even though rates of trauma are higher in the Deaf community than in the general population. Health Disparities come into effect during this time. Deaf people report nearly twice the rates of intimate partner violence and sexual assault (Anderson & Leigh, 2011; Anderson, Leigh, & Samar, 2011; Francavillo, 2009; Porter & Williams, 2011) and may experience more than six unique types of trauma across their lifespan (Schild, 2012). Although the actual figure may be higher due to unmeasured experiences of "communication abuse" (Mastrocinque et al., 2015) and traumatic events unique to the Deaf population (e.g., corporal punishment at oral/aural school if caught using sign language) in press). A recent American Sign Language (ASL) public health survey confirmed these disparities, with Deaf individuals more likely than their hearing peers to have experienced lifetime physical abuse and forced sex (Barnett, Klein, et al., 2011).

"Due to communication barriers and discrimination, English speaking patients including poorer health literacy, worse preventive screening outcomes, and higher rates of substance use," explained researchers (Barnett, Klein, et al., 2011). 

Access to health care affects the health of deaf people, and a call for action to provide better access to health services has been highlighted ( Emond et al., 2015 ). Access to mental health services for deaf people and access to primary care for those with mental illnesses have been studied throughout ( Fellinger, Holzinger, & Pollard, 2012; Levine, 2014; Steinberg, Sullivan, & Loew, 1998; Vernon, 2005 ). Despite the growing number of Deaf health programs and research initiatives, accessing primary care for deaf people is often still very challenging, even in high-income countries ( Pollard et al., 2014; Smeijers & Pfau, 2009; Ubido, Huntington, & Warburton, 2002 ). At this time, no work which summarizes global aspects of deaf people's access to health care, in general, could be found. I have also personally experienced the disparities within healthcare first hand, including my aunt and uncle, since they are both deaf parents to two children who can fully hear and speak. There were limited to many things, such as types of healthcare, and they had to rely on the government, which did not give them the correct access to the healthcare they should have been. For example, my aunt and uncle were unaware of hearing aids until I brought up the subject. They had no clue what it was, but the physician did not even give them an option because they believed their insurance would not cover it. This is where many deaf people refuse to go to the doctor or even avoid going to any clinic due to insurance because they are afraid they may not get the same treatments, medications Etc. as they should receive as other regular patients.