Providing Hearing Care for Patients With Non-English Language Preference: Interpreters Types and Delivery Modalities

In the United States, about 67 million people speak a language other than English at home, and of those, 38% report speaking English less than "very well." Not speaking the majority's language has been recognized as one of the major barriers linguistic minorities encounter when navigating healthcare systems. The evidence suggests that the type of interpreter and delivery modality can increase the accuracy of the interpretation and improve the overall patient experience for non-English language preference patients. As clinical settings leverage technology to increase language access and improve utilization of hearing services, it is crucial that they consider what would be more appropriate for patients with hearing loss who also prefer to communicate in languages other than English. The objective of this perspective article is to draw attention to recent findings regarding interpreters and delivery modalities and discuss the impact of such findings in hearing care services.