Recognizing the Diverse Cultures of Patients and Their Families in the Clinic

By Jackie L. Clark and Tressica August

This article is a part of the January/February 2022, Volume 34, Number 1, Audiology Today issue

The United States Census of 2017 recorded a 7.4 percent increase in the resident population compared to one decade earlier, as well as a clear increase in population diversity. In fact, the greatest growth in diversity is seen within the post Gen-Z and Gen-Z generations, in comparison to the less diverse pre-Boomer generation. 

It is important to note that more than half of the U.S. population younger than 16 years of age is identified as a racial or ethnic minority (U.S. Census, 2017). U.S. population projections to 2060 (U.S. Census, 2017) suggest the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group is people of two or more races, with a projected growth by some 200 percent (Frey, 2021). 

This data, to some, is considered a positive and exciting opportunity, while others may become frightened about the unknowns within their community. Clearly, our views of the world and tolerances of cultural diversity can impede or enhance our ability to interact with people of other cultures, professionally and personally. 

Culture

When delving into the connotation of culture, there is a vast array of dictionary definitions (e.g., Merriam Webster, Oxford English), easily leading to confusion. Simply described by our favorite “go-to authority,” Wikipedia, culture is a catch-all term that encompasses social behavior and norms found in human societies, as well as knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups. Though not an exhaustive definition found in a dictionary, the more easily recognizable culture types include ethnicity, race, gender/sex, economic status, organizational/workplace, regional/national, etc. 

A few unique expressions (indicators and traits) that are aligned to varying degrees by cultures could include: concept of time, foods, eating habits, ideas of fairness, uncertainty, avoidance, power/social distance, music, locus of control, literature, holiday customs, religious/community rituals, sense of personal space, style of dress, and more. 

Within the vast and rich tapestry of cultures, there are abundant opportunities to enrich our social, intellectual, and economic growth while embracing the cultural diversity within our smaller and larger communities. Equally, there are opportunities to experience our own unfortunate and avoidable missteps, and even catastrophic failures, while engaging personally or professionally with cultures that are different from our own.