Is video interpretation compromising care for the hearing loss population?

The convergence of hearing impairment and language barriers presents unique communication challenges to patients and practicing otolaryngologists. Limited data exist comparing interpretation methods for patients with hearing loss. Patients with hearing loss rely on visual cues, lip-reading, written...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of otolaryngology 2024-11, Vol.45 (6), p.104499, Article 104499
Main Authors: Mastropierro, Julianna, Sanyal, Ritwik, Heiser, Alyssa, Gjini, Emily, Noonan, Kathryn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Hearing loss
In-person interpretation
Interpretation
Video interpretation
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The convergence of hearing impairment and language barriers presents unique communication challenges to patients and practicing otolaryngologists. Limited data exist comparing interpretation methods for patients with hearing loss. Patients with hearing loss rely on visual cues, lip-reading, written communication, and/or comprehensive interaction techniques, which may encounter limitations by remote services. Herein, we examine patient and otolaryngology provider satisfaction, cost, and encounter efficiency between virtual and in-person interpretation among adults who speak Mandarin and Cantonese. This study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial in patients with moderate-to-severe bilateral hearing loss, Limited English Proficiency, and a primary language of Mandarin or Cantonese. Fifty-two patients were randomized to either in-person or virtual interpretation conditions. Patient satisfaction was measured using an 8-item Likert scale assessing communication effectiveness, encounter efficiency, and overall quality. Otolaryngology provider satisfaction was measured using a 1-item Likert scale. Encounter time, cost, and communication difficulty were measured and compared using independent sample t-tests. Patient and otolaryngology provider satisfaction scores were significantly higher with in-person interpretation (p 
ISSN:0196-0709
1532-818X
1532-818X
DOI:10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104499