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Our case study is based on adolescent who speaks a different language.

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Focus on what he struggles with and what he does well when his dad invites a friend over.

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Focus on Adam's behavior in the mall with his father and sister.

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Very insightful article on how we overcome language barriers in healthcare.

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Linguistic minorities in the United States rely on effective, fool-proof medical interpretation to talk to their doctors and understand their health. Miscommunication also occurs when there are differences in dialects. Cultural differences can intensify already-difficult communication.

This theory emphasizes the importance of semantics and syntax for communicating with a patient, arguing that ignoring these two elements can cause alienation.

Conversational Dynamics

An approach that emphasizes the relationship between the practitioner and patient, the conversational dynamics theory asserts that language reflects the power dynamic between the two individuals.

Communication Accommodation Theory

According to the Communication Accommodation Theory, convergence characterizes the nature of a conversation between patient and practitioner. As such, divergence is one cause of language barriers in the medical space. Each party aims to meet the other somewhere in the middle, and an interpreter mindful of this approach will mimic the patient's speech in certain ways.

Addressing language barriers are critical for providing a healthcare facility that feels safe, trustworthy, and accommodating to all individuals.

Hospitals and medical practitioners across the globe are now beginning to understand the importance

Find out more about Liberty Language Services for healthcare facilities.

In private healthcare facilities (which are not government funded, including some specialty care hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient care) and at funded healthcare facilities (which includes most hospitals, all of which must comply with the Affordable Care Act), patients rely on family members and friends to communicate with their practitioners. If these individuals are proficient in both languages, they may be able to help with communication, but this situation presents a series of problems.

While it is easy for the patient to communicate with their near and dear ones, they are not necessarily well-versed in medical terminology. The doctor has no way of knowing whether or not the patient understands what's being communicated, and this ends up being a deadly game of telephone.

Not only might these temporary interpreters lack the appropriate language proficiency, but familial interpreting compromises patient-doctor confidentiality. They become responsible for holding important patient information, which eventually creates more problems rather than solving the existing ones.

Having medical practitioners on staff who are fluent in a language that's common in your region helps a patient feel comfortable enough to share important, confidential information. This ensures appropriate and effective diagnosis, and eliminates possible errors in communication.

Many hospitals and healthcare providers currently waste valuable resources on poorly translated materials and heavily rely on Google Translate for their written communication. This not only creates an unwanted situation of panic and anxiety, but adds a general aura of distrust.

Clearly, your entire staff of medical practitioners won't be able to speak every language that each patient prefers to speak. In addition to finding bilingual practitioners, hiring translators and interpreters with fluency in two languages can pioneer effective communication and relieve the burden of translation from the doctors themselves. These professionals are skilled in both languages and are also familiar with HIPAA regulations and medical language. At Liberty Language Services, interpretation can also be provided over the phone. These services are crucial for providing interpretation in commonly spoken languages as well as less commonly spoken languages.

Related: Why Technological Interpreting Services Are Necessary, Easy Tools

Interpreters must have good listening skills, technical knowledge, and an ability to think on their feet so that they're able to communicate accurately.

Depending on the availability, these interpreter services are divided into three broad categories:

On-Site Interpreting (OSI): In this case, the interpreters are physically present in the consultation room and are therefore able to see and hear both the parties involved.

Over-the-Phone Interpreting (OPI): In case there is no On-Site interpreter available, when calling the interpreter physically will delay the process, it becomes easier to speak with the designated parties through phone.

Video Remote Interpreting (VRI): Another alternative to On-Site interpreters, where getting trained interpreters becomes a challenge, medical facilities prefer using a high-quality camera and microphone to communicate with the designated parties. This enables the interpreter to see and hear the speakers as well as to pick up on non-verbal cues which are missed in OPI.

In the medical interview, when a patient is sharing the details of his/her discomfort, an interpreter must be able to communicate the patient's situation to them with clarity and accuracy. This communication is important because it's the only way a doctor can give an accurate diagnosis with the correct follow-up steps. Similarly, when the details of a diagnosis or treatment are to be communicated to the patient, it is important that the person responsible interprets the crucial details with utmost seriousness. They must accurately convey the associated risk factors of an illness, side effects of treatment, and other vital information.

If the interpreter fails in interpreting information completely and accurately, chances are the doctor won't be able to provide an accurate diagnosis and will end up treating the patient incorrectly. Simultaneously, the patient may fail to comply with the instructions and unknowingly worsen their situation.

It is these skills that make the role of a medical interpreter vital.

If you're interested in OPI, OSI, or VRI, contact Liberty Language Services for a quote.

Miscommunication due to language barriers aren't a new problem - it's an unfortunate, yet highly prevalent issue across the globe.

Related: Language Interpreting in Education Settings: A Growing Specialization

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How to Overcome Language Barriers in Healthcare

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Linguistic minorities in the United States rely on effective, fool-proof medical interpretation to talk to their doctors and understand their health. Miscommunication also occurs when there are differences in dialects. Cultural differences can intensify already-difficult communication. This theory emphasizes the importance of semantics and syntax for communicating with a patient, arguing that ignoring these two elements can cause alienation.

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Please review this diagnosis

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Learn about intellectual disability, including symptoms, risk factors, treatment options and answers to common questions.

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Please review this diagnosis.

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Our case study is in the home health setting.

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Focus your attention on Severe ID

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Please review this diagnosis.

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Overview

Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication. The disorder also includes limited and repetitive patterns of behavior. The term "spectrum" in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity.

Autism spectrum disorder includes conditions that were previously considered separate - autism, Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and an unspecified form of pervasive developmental disorder. Some people still use the term "Asperger's syndrome," which is generally thought to be at the mild end of autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder begins in early childhood and eventually causes problems functioning in society - socially, in school and at work, for example. Often children show symptoms of autism within the first year. A small number of children appear to develop normally in the first year, and then go through a period of regression between 18 and 24 months of age when they develop autism symptoms.

While there is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, intensive, early treatment can make a big difference in the lives of many children.

Symptoms

Some children show signs of autism spectrum disorder in early infancy, such as reduced eye contact, lack of response to their name or indifference to caregivers. Other children may develop normally for the first few months or years of life, but then suddenly become withdrawn or aggressive or lose language skills they've already acquired. Signs usually are seen by age 2 years.

Each child with autism spectrum disorder is likely to have a unique pattern of behavior and level of severity - from low functioning to high functioning.

Some children with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty learning, and some have signs of lower than normal intelligence. Other children with the disorder have normal to high intelligence - they learn quickly, yet have trouble communicating and applying what they know in everyday life and adjusting to social situations.

Because of the unique mixture of symptoms in each child, severity can sometimes be difficult to determine. It's generally based on the level of impairments and how they impact the ability to function.

Below are some common signs shown by people who have autism spectrum disorder.

Social communication and interaction

A child or adult with autism spectrum disorder may have problems with social interaction and communication skills, including any of these signs:

Fails to respond to his or her name or appears not to hear you at times

Resists cuddling and holding, and seems to prefer playing alone, retreating into his or her own world

Has poor eye contact and lacks facial expression

Doesn't speak or has delayed speech, or loses previous ability to say words or sentences

Can't start a conversation or keep one going, or only starts one to make requests or label items

Speaks with an abnormal tone or rhythm and may use a singsong voice or robot-like speech

Repeats words or phrases verbatim, but doesn't understand how to use them

Doesn't appear to understand simple questions or directions

Doesn't express emotions or feelings and appears unaware of others' feelings

Doesn't point at or bring objects to share interest

Inappropriately approaches a social interaction by being passive, aggressive or disruptive

Has difficulty recognizing nonverbal cues, such as interpreting other people's facial expressions, body postures or tone of voice

Patterns of behavior

A child or adult with autism spectrum disorder may have limited, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities, including any of these signs:

Performs repetitive movements, such as rocking, spinning or hand flapping

Performs activities that could cause self-harm, such as biting or head-banging

Develops specific routines or rituals and becomes disturbed at the slightest change

Has problems with coordination or has odd movement patterns, such as clumsiness or walking on toes, and has odd, stiff or exaggerated body language

Is fascinated by details of an object, such as the spinning wheels of a toy car, but doesn't understand the overall purpose or function of the object

Is unusually sensitive to light, sound or touch, yet may be indifferent to pain or temperature

Doesn't engage in imitative or make-believe play

Fixates on an object or activity with abnormal intensity or focus

Has specific food preferences, such as eating only a few foods, or refusing foods with a certain texture

As they mature, some children with autism spectrum disorder become more engaged with others and show fewer disturbances in behavior. Some, usually those with the least severe problems, eventually may lead normal or near-normal lives. Others, however, continue to have difficulty with language or social skills, and the teen years can bring worse behavioral and emotional problems.

When to see a doctor

Babies develop at their own pace, and many don't follow exact timelines found in some parenting books. But children with autism spectrum disorder usually show some signs of delayed development before age 2 years.

If you're concerned about your child's development or you suspect that your child may have autism spectrum disorder, discuss your concerns with your doctor. The symptoms associated with the disorder can also be linked with other developmental disorders.

Signs of autism spectrum disorder often appear early in development when there are obvious delays in language skills and social interactions. Your doctor may recommend developmental tests to identify if your child has delays in cognitive, language and social skills, if your child:

Doesn't respond with a smile or happy expression by 6 months

Doesn't mimic sounds or facial expressions by 9 months

Doesn't babble or coo by 12 months

Doesn't gesture - such as point or wave - by 14 months

Doesn't say single words by 16 months

Doesn't play "make-believe" or pretend by 18 months

Doesn't say two-word phrases by 24 months

Loses language skills or social skills at any age

Causes

Autism spectrum disorder has no single known cause. Given the complexity of the disorder, and the fact that symptoms and severity vary, there are probably many causes. Both genetics and environment may play a role.

Genetics. Several different genes appear to be involved in autism spectrum disorder. For some children, autism spectrum disorder can be associated with a genetic disorder, such as Rett syndrome or fragile X syndrome. For other children, genetic changes (mutations) may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder. Still other genes may affect brain development or the way that brain cells communicate, or they may determine the severity of symptoms. Some genetic mutations seem to be inherited, while others occur spontaneously.

Environmental factors. Researchers are currently exploring whether factors such as viral infections, medications or complications during pregnancy, or air pollutants play a role in triggering autism spectrum disorder.

No link between vaccines and autism spectrum disorder

One of the greatest controversies in autism spectrum disorder centers on whether a link exists between the disorder and childhood vaccines. Despite extensive research, no reliable study has shown a link between autism spectrum disorder and any vaccines. In fact, the original study that ignited the debate years ago has been retracted due to poor design and questionable research methods.

Avoiding childhood vaccinations can place your child and others in danger of catching and spreading serious diseases, including whooping cough (pertussis), measles or mumps.

Risk factors

The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder is rising. It's not clear whether this is due to better detection and reporting or a real increase in the number of cases, or both.

Autism spectrum disorder affects children of all races and nationalities, but certain factors increase a child's risk. These may include:

Your child's sex. Boys are about four times more likely to develop autism spectrum disorder than girls are.

Family history. Families who have one child with autism spectrum disorder have an increased risk of having another child with the disorder. It's also not uncommon for parents or relatives of a child with autism spectrum disorder to have minor problems with social or communication skills themselves or to engage in certain behaviors typical of the disorder.

Other disorders. Children with certain medical conditions have a higher than normal risk of autism spectrum disorder or autism-like symptoms. Examples include fragile X syndrome, an inherited disorder that causes intellectual problems; tuberous sclerosis, a condition in which benign tumors develop in the brain; and Rett syndrome, a genetic condition occurring almost exclusively in girls, which causes slowing of head growth, intellectual disability and loss of purposeful hand use.

Extremely preterm babies. Babies born before 26 weeks of gestation may have a greater risk of autism spectrum disorder.

Parents' ages. There may be a connection between children born to older parents and autism spectrum disorder, but more research is necessary to establish this link.

Complications

Problems with social interactions, communication and behavior can lead to:

Problems in school and with successful learning

Employment problems

Inability to live independently

Social isolation

Stress within the family

Victimization and being bullied

Prevention

There's no way to prevent autism spectrum disorder, but there are treatment options. Early diagnosis and intervention is most helpful and can improve behavior, skills and language development. However, intervention is helpful at any age. Though children usually don't outgrow autism spectrum disorder symptoms, they may learn to function well.

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Autism spectrum disorder - Symptoms and causes

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Autism spectrum disorder is a serious condition related to brain development that impairs the ability to communicate and interact with others.