To Provide Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Care -- USE INTERPRETERS!
The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) reported that only 6.5% of it’s SLP and Audiology members indicated they were bilingual (with 64.9% of bilingual providers were Spanish speaking and only 742 individuals indicated that they can communicate using American Sign Language). This is in contrast to 21.5% of people who speak a language other than English at home in the United States.
Needless to say there is a gap.
As speech-language pathologists we not only interact with many cultures and languages; it’s part of our job to tease apart language and cultural differences versus language (including pragmatic language) differences. Given that 93.5% of SLPs and Audiologists (ASHA) are monolingual English speakers, we need to bridge the difference between provider and patient/student/client language and culture.
How do we bridge the gap?
Research Client Language and Culture
Yes, it’s time consuming to research different cultures and language characteristics, but you’ll be able to provide the best and most appropriate care! Overtime, the researching process will get easier and may get faster because you can build upon prior knowledge.
Resources:
Bilinguistics
Use Professional Interpreters
When we use professional interpreters we can be confident that we are able to effectively communicate with our patients and families. While family members or friends MAY be able to interpret we cannot be sure of the accuracy of the interpretation especially when speaking about specific and detailed information. We need professional and certified interpreter who are trained to interpret in various settings (e.g.,educational or medical).
Quick Tips for Working with Interpreters
It is the provider’s responsibility (therapist, teacher etc) to research cultural and linguistic.
Introduce the situation to the interpreter so they have context
Look at the student/family/patient when communicating when using an interpreter
Speak at a moderate rate and include pauses between main ideas when speaking to patients to allow the interpreter to interpret
Evaluate if the interpreter expressed everything you or the patient/client/student said is translated
Have the patient/client/student repeat information back to you to ensure understanding
Thank the interpreter !
Hope this article helped!
As a profession as we learn more about different languages and cultures with every opportunity we get; it will become easier and easier for us to provide culturally and linguistically diverse care!
References and Resources