Clear the Linguistic Gap

For those who speak English fluently,the idea of language as a barrier to safe, effective health care might seem somewhat intangible and secondary to many other access-to-care issues. Then again, any English speaker who has ever had the experience of needing medical services in a non-English speaking nation will likely appreciate how crucial it can be to communicate effectively with those providing care.

For many, language challenges in health care are indeed front and center. or many, language challenges in health care are indeed front and center. While about 20 percent of the U.S. population claims a native language other than English, a reported subset of this population—around 25 million people, or nearly 9 percent of the population—can be classified as being limited English proficient (LEP). For these patients, communication barriers can pose potential risks to the safety and quality of the health care they receive.

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HOW DEAF CHILDREN ARE BEING LOCKED OUT OF LANGUAGE

WHY YOU SHOULD CARE

Language acquisition for deaf children in early years can have a profound impact on life outcomes.

When he was in elementary school, one of the most isolating parts of Chris Soukup’s school day was when announcements crackled over the school intercom. Soukup couldn’t hear them. He also couldn’t hear the rustling of papers or the shrieking of students before lunchtime. It was lonely being the only deaf student at Christ the King Elementary in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in the 1980s.

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