Language
- Language preference, level of comfort, and proficiency influence how people tend to perceive, trust, understand, develop meaning and make sense of their world.
- Lack of basic reading and writing skills in a person’s native language (or speaking a language with no written form) greatly increases the difficulty of learning a new language.
- In times of significant stress or emotional trauma such as illness or injury, even those who are proficient in English often revert to their native tongue.
- Patients with limited proficiency in English can encounter many obstacles to obtaining adequate health care.
- Communication difficulties using the telephone may create barriers to access to health care.
- Misunderstanding details of referral appointments may decrease the likelihood that patients participate in follow-up care.
- The medical interview and history may be incomplete and lead to an inaccurate diagnosis and/or treatment.
- Language difficulties may interfere with patient compliance with specialized directions related to diagnostic testing and medications.