deaftalk

From the newsroom of the News 14 Carolina (Cable TV), Raleigh, North Carolina, Thursday, April 8, 2004 .....

Deaf-Talk

By: Medstar

Imagine you're a patient in the emergency room - and you're deaf. How do you communicate with your doctor?

Articia Smith is hard of hearing and uses sign language to communicate.

“Sometimes I have a hard time understanding doctors,” she signed. “Everybody talks different."

So what if Articia is taken to a hospital in an emergency? Will her doctors know sign language? The chances are slim and that can be a problem.

“They need to communicate their needs to us,” said Mercy Medical Center Nursing Director Cathy O’Neill. “We need to communicate to that person in some way."

And the sooner the better O'Neill says. Her hospital is one of the first to use a revolutionary new device called Deaf-Talk.

“When a deaf person comes in and we need to speak with them, we can speak with them right away in about two minutes,” she said.

A portable cart with a TV monitor, camera, and microphone allows an interpreter off-site to be on-site almost instantly.

“Prior to getting this device, we had to call an interpreter through an interpreter service, have them beeped, wait for them to call us back, and then wait for them to drive into our facility,” O’Neill said. “It could take
up to two to three hours."

But Deaf-Talk is not just a timesaver.

“It really saves on labor, and time, and for everybody so then there's enough interpreters for all the deaf people that need it,” the interpretor said.

According to Articia, "It was like, ‘Wow’. With a little bit of sign language, I can do really good."

Hospitals can rent the video conferencing system for less money than an interpreter service. Special phone lines may have to be set up to use the equipment.

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Background Information:

Deaf-Talk, LLC
607 Washington Street
Suite 302
Pittsburgh, PA 15228

Communication Through Sign Language

According to the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, one out of every ten Americans has a significant hearing loss. Those with profound hearing loss or deafness must rely on other means of communication, such as writing or sign language.

Sign language is a combination of visual cues used to communicate, like hand shape and positions, gestures and facial expressions. What we call American Sign Language (ASL) is believed to have originated mostly from French Sign Language (FSL). In 1817, a man named Laurent Clerc founded the first school
for the deaf in Hartford, CT, using FSL to teach his students. Today, ASL is believed to be the third most commonly used language in the U.S. (after English and Spanish).

Sign language is not a universal language. ASL is very different from sign language used in non-English speaking communities. It’s also different from British Sign Language. There are even regional variations in sign language, just as there are with spoken language.

Deaf Communication in the Hospital

People with profound hearing loss sometimes have a hard time communicating and interacting with those who can hear. The inability to communicate with medical providers may have adverse effects on health. In one study, researchers found deaf women were less likely to understand the importance of cancer screenings, appropriate use of prescription medications and the need for other types of medical intervention. In some cases, negative experiences with a health care provider (such as insensitivity or
frustrations with communication) led patients to avoid getting proper medical care.

Under Title III of The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), health care providers must provide effective means of communication for all patients – including those with hearing disabilities. Sometimes family members are called upon to act as interpreters. However, health experts say family members are biased toward the patient and may not provide an accurate interpretation. Family members are often not familiar with medical terminology and may relay misleading or incorrect information to the patient or physician. In addition, use of family may pose ethical problems in maintaining patient confidentiality.

Deaf-Talk Interpretation Service

Hospitals don’t typically have deaf interpreters on staff and usually rely on on-call interpreters. However, precious time is lost while waiting for the interpreter to get to the hospital. Now, a company called Deaf-Talk is using technology to offer a new interpreting service to health care providers. The Deaf-Talk system is composed of a camera, microphone, computer/keyboard, monitor and portable cart. When needed, the system is wheeled into the room and hooked up to a phone line. The computer accesses an available interpreter, who signs for the patient and speaks for the physician. All interpreters meet the highest level of state standards and are knowledgeable with medical terminology.

Deaf-Talk is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The service is also prompt. In most cases, access to an interpreter is available within minutes (rather than what could be an hour or more for an on-call interpreter). Deaf-Talk can also be used to access an interpreter for non-English speaking patients. While Deaf-Talk can be an important service for hospitals, it will not be helpful for patients who are sight-impaired or don’t know sign language.