ABSTRACT
In the United States, there is an increasing number of patients who are Speakers of Languages Other Than English (SOLOTE). In addition, there are Deaf patients whose primary language is American Sign Language (ASL). There exists research on the linguistic demands and the medical knowledge required to navigate medical encounters. However, there are systematic, institutional, and technological barriers to access that are not as widely examined. It is time to examine these obstacles—including that of the interpreter—that impede the path to authentic, effective communication and healthcare for deaf patients.
