Interpreters

Where the speech pathologist is not proficient in a language of the person with aphasia, a trained and qualified interpreter, knowledgeable with the specific requirements for speech pathology, should be used.

Reference: Flores, 2005; Karliner et al., 2007
NHMRC level of Evidence: I

Rationale: The use of professional trained interpreters, as opposed to untrained interpreters or none at all, improves the quality of clinical care, reducing communication errors, and increasing patient satisfaction (Flores, 2005; Karliner, Jacobs, Chen, & Mutha, 2007). The use of untrained and unqualified interpreters (such as family members or other employees of the organisation) gives rise to ethical issues of privacy, confidentiality and may compromise the autonomy of the person with aphasia (Brisset, Leanza, & Laforest, 2013). The client’s choice and preferences for the use of family or friends as interpreters must always be taken into consideration. Interpreters, even when professionally qualified, may not be knowledgeable about aphasia and/or the specific needs for speech pathology, and thus may demonstrate behaviours that invalidate assessment and therapy procedures (Roger & Code, 2011). Speech pathologists should share their professional knowledge with the interpreter, specifically about typical responses and behaviours of clients that form essential information for diagnosis (Kambanaros & van Steenbrugge, 2004).  

References:

1. Brisset, C., Leanza, Y., & Laforest, K. (2013). Working with interpreters in health care: a systematic review and meta-ethnography of qualitative studies. Patient education and counseling, 91(2). doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2012.11.008
2. Flores, G. (2005). The impact of medical interpreter services on the quality of health care: a systematic review. Medical Care Research and Review, 62(3), 255-299. doi: 10.1177/1077558705275416
3. Kambanaros, M., & van Steenbrugge, W. (2004). Interpreters and language assessment: confrontation naming and interpreting. Advances in Speech Language Pathology, 6(4), 247-252.
4. Karliner, L. S., Jacobs, E. A., Chen, A. H., & Mutha, S. (2007). Do professional interpreters improve clinical care for patients with limited English proficiency? A systematic review of the literature. Health Services Research, 42(2), 727-754. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2006.00629.x
5. Roger, P., & Code, C. (2011). Lost in translation? Issues of content validity in interpreter-mediated aphasia assessments. International Journal of  Speech-language Pathology, 13(1), 61-73. doi: doi:10.3109/17549507.2011.549241