Introduction

Background/rationale

Inclusive education in higher education seeks to ensure equitable access, participation, and success for all students [1]. Despite advances in policy and institutional support, significant challenges remain [2,3], particularly in professional programs that involve clinical training [4-7]. In dental education, clinical environments introduce additional complexity because communication, real-time interaction, and patient care are central to training. Students with hearing disabilities face specific challenges in these clinical contexts, including communication barriers, environmental constraints, and limited pedagogical adaptations [8]. Although inclusion in higher education has been examined, limited evidence specifically addresses clinical dental training for students with hearing disabilities. Understanding how facilitators and barriers operate in these environments is essential for improving inclusive practices and supporting meaningful participation in clinical education [2,4].

Objectives

This study aimed to describe facilitators and barriers affecting the inclusion of students with hearing disabilities in clinical dental education at a Chilean university.