Medical interpreting can reduce blunders, increase patient trust, and save lives. By bridging the communication gap between Deaf patients and healthcare professionals, ASL interpreters simplify the process of getting medical care for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. They play a critical role in the healthcare industry. Any miscommunication and misunderstanding between a patient and their healthcare provider can prove to be fatal. 

Being sick is hard enough. Not being able to accurately describe what they are experiencing can make the situation worse for a patient. This can determine how fast or slow the patient receives the treatment, and if the treatment is correct. 

While the inability to clearly explain symptoms due to a lack of language proficiency can be found in many people, this problem is exacerbated in the case of deaf and hard-of-hearing patients. 

ASL medical interpreters, thus, become the connecting link between the Deaf patient and their healthcare provider. The specialized interpreter can effectively relay the patient’s woes to the healthcare professional and is also able to share all necessary information, such as the course of treatment, with the patient. To ensure good patient care and to avoid the risk of fatalities caused by miscommunication, the involvement of specialized ASL interpreters is critical.  

Listed below are some reasons why ASL interpreting services are essential in the healthcare industry.  

Compliance with law

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that if a deaf or hard-of-hearing person feels like they need the help of a professional ASL interpreter for better communication and understanding, the healthcare professional is required to provide them with one. All healthcare professionals are responsible for ensuring that communication with all their patients is equally effective. In the case of deaf patients, the healthcare professional can ensure this by providing additional aids such as assistive listening devices, written or visual materials, telecommunication devices, and/or ASL interpreting services. 

Need for specialized medical interpreters

Medical interpreting can be quite complicated as there might not be specific signs for every medical term and procedure. ASL medical interpreting requires in-depth knowledge of medical terms. Further, it is also essential for medical interpreters to be able to explain these concepts and terms to the Deaf patient. 

During signing it may happen that the interpreter comes across some medical terms that do not exist in ASL. If the interpreter does not know how to deal with such situations, the patient may not be able to fully and accurately understand what is happening to them or what the future course of action might be. Medical interpreters need to think on their feet and make the best of the situation. Despite the lack of signs, they should be able to provide accurate translations to the Deaf patient. 

A specialized ASL interpreter must be contracted or employed for this task. Poor interpreting can lead to misunderstandings which can prove to be dangerous. 

To qualify as a specialized medical interpreter, an individual must complete at least 40 hours of training. These courses cover topics such as ethics and standards, medical terminologies, and foundations of interpretation. This training also equips the professional to effectively interpret for the various medical specializations.

Accurate diagnosis and prognosis

The primary role of an ASL medical interpreter is to accurately translate the diagnosis and the prognosis from English to ASL. By doing so, the interpreter acts as a link between the healthcare professional and the patient. They play an important role as they reduce the chances of misunderstanding between the Deaf patient, healthcare professionals, and others involved. 

Follow-up care

Medical appointments, check-ups, and procedures are only a part of the process. Some patients may also require follow-up care to see if their condition is getting better. Just as the other procedures, this also requires extensive communication between the patient and their healthcare provider. Here, ASL interpreters are needed to assist with follow-up phone calls and to translate during follow-up appointments. Accurately interpreting and providing assistance with communication can help bring to light any additional problems that the Deaf patient might be facing. Clear communication during follow-up care is important to ensure that the patient fully understands what they are supposed to do and not do. It also helps the healthcare professional understand whether the medical treatment prescribed by them was effective or not. 

Patient stress

Getting sick and seeking treatment for your illness is a daunting experience. Hospitals and clinics are intimidating for most people. Not knowing how to properly communicate your symptoms or having to communicate in a language that you are not comfortable with makes the experience worse than it needs to be. The involvement of an ASL interpreter in medical settings can alleviate the stress of Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients. Specialized interpreters can make deaf patients feel at ease while seeking medical assistance. 

Conclusion

While specialized medical interpreters play a critical role in optimal patient care, it is often observed that there is a huge shortage of such interpreters. It is difficult to find interpreters who provide comprehensive services, or who are available for emergency visits. This strips Deaf and hard-of-hearing people of their right to effectively communicate with their healthcare providers.  

Unspoken Language Services works with specialized medical interpreters who are dedicated to providing the best care. Unspoken Interpreters are fully invested in the case of each client that they work with, ensuring comprehensive care. Our specialized interpreters are skilled in dealing with routine appointments, outpatient and inpatient. They are flexible in their approach and offer their services in various healthcare specializations such as OB/GYN, Surgical, Routine Medical Appointments, and Health and Wellness. To know more, contact us today!

Thumbnail Photo Credit to: Photo by Thirdman