Teaching physical examination techniques for medical trainees with hearing and mobility disabilities: Guidelines for medical educators

Data on American medical school enrollees show an increasing number of medical students with a form of physical disability. The lack of guidance for medical schools regarding student disability can serve as a significant barrier to success for these trainees. The physical examination is an essential competency for practicing physicians that requires visual, auditory, and hands-on skills. However, there are currently no published guidelines or educational tools on performing the physical examination for physicians with specific disabilities. The authors of this article developed two separate educational tools on guidance for performing the physical examination, one for practitioners with hearing deficits and the other for practitioners with the ability to use only one arm or hand. These educational tools are intended to provide medical schools with guidance for physical examination education for trainees with these disabilities. Such efforts can help alleviate some of the barriers faced by medical students and practitioners with disabilities.