title: Using American sign language interpreters to facilitate research among deaf adults: lessons learned.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health care providers commonly discuss depressive symptoms with clients, enabling earlier intervention. Such discussions rarely occur between providers and Deaf clients. Most culturally Deaf adults experience early-onset hearing loss, self-identify as part of a unique culture, and communicate in the visual language of American Sign Language (ASL). Communication barriers abound, and depression screening instruments may be unreliable.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To train and use ASL interpreters for a qualitative study describing depressive symptoms among Deaf adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Training included research versus community interpreting. During data collection, interpreters translated to and from voiced English and ASL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Training eliminated potential problems during data collection. Unexpected issues included participants asking for "my interpreter" and worrying about confidentiality or friendship in a small community.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lessons learned included the value of careful training of interpreters prior to initiating data collection, including resolution of possible role conflicts and ensuring conceptual equivalence in real-time interpreting.
authors.affiliation: University Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, USA. ksheppard@psln.com
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sheppard
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003625:Data Collection; D003638:Deafness / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008603:Mental Health; D017008:Negotiating; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D014175:Translating; D014481:United States