Objective:

To know experiences related to communication barriers in health care received by deaf people in an emergency unit.

Methodology:

Qualitative phenomenological with convenience sampling through ad hoc semi-structured interviews. It was transcribed, coded and categorized by means of the content analysis method.

Main results:

The lack of human and technical resources, as well as the lack of autonomy, information and accessibility experienced, has made them feel limited, with anxiety, frustration and insecurity. Positive evaluations were linked to the presence of signatories.

Main conclusion:

Communication barriers are a risk factor in the health care of the deaf person, they do not guarantee compliance with the existing legal framework and reduce the perceived quality of care. There is a need to adapt and expand the availability of interpreters and promote learning for health personnel.