University of the Philippines College of Medicine students Alex Nathaniel Gagalac and Regeena Janine Lim use the MediSIGN handbook to converse with each other in sign language on Friday. The handbook aims to make communication better and easier between deaf patients and medical professionals. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN New

MANILA—Due to communication challenges between medical professionals and patients with hearing loss, a group of medical students from the University of the Philippines (UP) have developed a Filipino sign language (FSL) handbook to improve interactions in healthcare settings. 

This handbook, called MediSIGN, aims to improve healthcare delivery for deaf patients.

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Many deaf patients are hesitant to seek medical help because they fear they won’t be able to communicate effectively with a doctor, said Regeena Lim of the UP Medical Students for Social Responsibility (MSSR).

"Minsan hindi na sila pumupunta ng ospital kasi natatakot sila na hindi sila maintindihan ng doktor o kaya sobrang tagal na nila naghihintay na mabigyang pansin sila ng doktor kasi natatakot din yung ibang doktor na makipag usap sa kanila..kasi walang background on sign language," Lim said.

(Sometimes, they avoid going to the hospital because they fear that the doctor won’t understand them, or they experience long wait times for attention. Some doctors are also hesitant to communicate with them due to a lack of background in sign language.) 

Lim added that, in her experience, cellphones are often used to type messages for communication with the deaf.

It’s important to be creative in the approach to ensure effective communication and understanding, she added.

"Kaming mga estudyante may mga experience din na pasyenteng mga deaf din na hindi rin naman masyadong makausap nang maayos na kahit gusto po namin. Na-realize namin na kailangan po talaga ng ganitong handbook," she said.

(As students, we have also encountered deaf patients whom we struggled to communicate with effectively, despite our best efforts. We realized the urgent need for a handbook like this.)

The book covers FSL basics and key elements like handshape, location, movement, palm orientation, and non-manual signs for effective communication with deaf patients.

Its five sections include: Introduction, Filipino Sign Language (FSL), Alphabet and Numbers, Building Rapport, and History Taking, which covers essential signs for gathering complete medical histories.

"We collaborated po with Philippine Association of the Deaf Incorporated to ensure na yung librong magawa namin is accurate but also respectful and responsive po yung needs ng deaf community," said Nathan Gagalac of UP MSSR.

(We collaborated with the Philippine Association of the Deaf, Inc. to ensure that our book is both accurate and respectful, and meets the needs of the deaf community.)

Lim said that connecting with deaf patients in their own language, rather than just using written communication, creates a stronger and more genuine connection.

"Very important talaga na makapag-connect tayo...may effort din yung mismong doktor na makipag-communicate sa mga patients especially ’yong mga deaf kasi iba pa rin siya sa pagsusulat lang...iba yung connection na nafo-form natin ‘pag kinausap natin sila in their language," she said.

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(It's crucial to connect with patients, especially the deaf, by making an effort to communicate in their language. This approach creates a stronger connection than merely relying on written communication) 

The MediSIGN book was first published in May and released at UP Manila. The UP MSSR plans to include distributing it to hospitals and health centers, partnering with organizations, and seeking DOH funding for additional copies.

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