To mark Deaf Awareness Week earlier this month, Dr Fatin (Fizz) Izagaren, Paediatrician and Paediatric Emergency Medicine Consultant, shared her story.

Tell us about yourself and your role here at Kingston and Richmond

My name is Fatin, but most people know me as Fizz. I joined Kingston last October as a Paediatrician and Paediatric Emergency Medicine Consultant. Kingston Hospital is where I worked as an F1, so coming back here as my first consultant role feels very special – like coming full circle.

What challenges did you experience during your medical training? 

My journey into medicine was not an easy one. Growing up, I had never heard of a Deaf person going to university, let alone medical school. Teachers told me becoming a doctor was unrealistic, and I was discouraged from applying. I initially went on to do a Biology degree and applied to medical school later.

Growing up with a hearing loss, I was often encouraged to hide/ minimise my deafness around people who did not know me, I was not allowed to learn British Sign Language (BSL) and these are still common themes for many. 

At interview, I hid my hearing aids by wearing my hair down and didn’t declare my Deafness until I had an unconditional offer. For a long time, I felt I had to “act hearing” to be taken seriously.

Getting into Paediatric Medicine was a dream come true. During my training, I faced questions from patients and families about how I could be a good doctor if I was Deaf. 

Working with children, however, was very different. They accepted me exactly as I was, without preconceived ideas about my abilities. That acceptance is something we can all
learn from!

The most challenging period of my career came during COVID. Mandatory face masks meant I suddenly lost my main method of communication: lip reading. Starting Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) training in a new team under these conditions was incredibly difficult, and at one point I was told I couldn’t work until a solution was found.

That train journey home was devastating – I genuinely thought my career might be over. Thankfully, I had supportive colleagues and mentors who truly supported me throughout my Paediatric training. Together, we explored new ways of communicating, including assistive microphones and adapting our non verbal communication.

What are you most proud of? 

I’m proud of not letting the challenges during COVID let me walk away from the career I dreamt of since I was 5 years old.  That experience pushed me to advocate not just for myself, but for others.

I worked with the Department of Health and charities to help introduce clear masks across the NHS, co-founded the Deaf and Hard of Hearing NHS Staff Network and contributed to research on the experiences of Deaf healthcare professionals. 

It is so important to be able to support Deaf colleagues and patients in accessing NHS services. I co-wrote several papers on the experiences of being a Deaf HCP and how to communicate with Deaf patients.

What’s something colleagues might not realise about working with someone who is deaf?

What I want colleagues to understand is that Deafness is not a weakness. “D/deaf” is an umbrella term – it’s a medical condition for some and a cultural identity for others. Being Deaf often means working much harder to follow conversations, which can lead to “listening fatigue”, which can be exhausting.

Simple things like facing someone when you speak, being patient, and asking what adjustments help can make an enormous difference.

For me, inclusion looks like shared responsibility. One moment I will never forget was arriving at a new rotation on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Evelina Children’s Hospital during COVID to find clear masks laid out on each chair and my microphone ready, without having to ask. That small act meant everything. 

Is there any advice you would give?

My advice is simple: educate yourself about Deaf awareness, be curious, and just ask. Take time to learn British Sign Language (BSL). Reasonable adjustments are not unreasonable – they are a legal right and a sign of a compassionate workplace. My positive experience at Kingston has demonstrated this so well. Deaf people are not broken; we simply need access to communication that works for us.

It is also a legal right for BSL users to be provided with a qualified BSL interpreter as part of the Accessible Information Standards in the NHS. 

Deaf Awareness benefits both patients and staff, now and in the future. Hearing loss can happen to anyone at any age, and together we can help future proof the NHS so that fewer barriers exist for those who come after us.

Remember to just ask, be patient, and take the time to listen and communicate in a way that meets each person’s needs.