Which action is recommended to support Deaf or hard-of-hearing patients who use ASL?

• A. Use lip-reading without an interpreter.
• B. Engage qualified interpreters for the modality.
• C. Rely on family members to interpret.
• D. Use machine translation.

Answer: (B)

Ensuring accurate, confidential communication requires bringing in a professional interpreter who shares the patient’s language and modality. American Sign Language is a distinct language with its own structure, and lip-reading alone often misses important medical details, directions, or consent. A qualified ASL interpreter can render medical information faithfully in real time, clarify terms, and convey emphasis and nuances, supporting the patient in understanding options and making informed choices. They also uphold ethics and confidentiality in ways that family members or friends cannot, reducing the risk of miscommunication or bias. Machine translation cannot reliably capture medical terminology or the subtleties of ASL, so relying on technology alone is not appropriate for medical encounters. If needed, alternative modalities like video remote interpreting can be used, but the interpreter must be trained for the language and modality used by the patient.