Interpreting in Pediatrics

Language barriers can have critical consequences for children with special healthcare needs.  Children whose families have limited English proficiency are more likely to have poor health status, lack medical insurance, and lack access to preventative and specialty care.  Interpreters become a crucial member of the pediatric care team, providing not just language access, but a clearer path to culturally competent care.  

In this module, we will discuss some of the challenges an interpreter faces when working with children and families in the pediatric setting. We will also define the subspecialties of pediatrics along with common terminology used in this field.  Students will get an overview of  common childhood illnesses, vaccinations and developmental milestones. We will also discuss the complexities of interpreting for children and how adhering to the interpreter professional standards can help in these situations.