New medical ASL course aims to bridge communication gaps in health care

Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients often face significant barriers to accessing quality health care, from a lack of qualified interpreters to miscommunication in the exam room. These challenges can lead to delayed treatment and even avoidance of care altogether.

This fall, Washington State University's Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine is taking a step toward addressing these barriers with a new medical ASL course. Designed to equip future health care providers with foundational skills in American Sign Language (ASL) and an understanding of Deaf culture, the 1-credit online course is open to all WSU students.

"Working with Deaf patients is very different from working with someone who speaks another verbal language," said WSU Associate Professor Melissa Ratsch, the course's creator and instructor. "There are unique considerations when it comes to interpreters, communication flow, and cultural understanding. This course is designed to help students navigate those differences with confidence and respect."

The course was inspired in part by Ratsch's personal experiences. With several Deaf family members, she has witnessed firsthand the challenges Deaf individuals face in medical settings. A particularly difficult emergency room visit where a relative was unable to access an interpreter highlighted the urgent need for change.

"I ended up interpreting over FaceTime," she said. "That experience really drove home how unprepared many health care systems are to serve Deaf patients."

While the course is especially relevant for students pursuing careers in health care fields including medicine, nursing, and pharmacy, it offers valuable skills for anyone planning to work in a clinical or client-facing role, including veterinarians, social workers, psychologists, and first responders.

The course introduces students to more than 200 basic ASL signs, with a focus on medical vocabulary and clinical interactions. Students will also:

• Learn how to work effectively with ASL interpreters in clinical settings
• Understand the legal rights of Deaf patients under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Gain an understanding of Deaf culture and community
• Explore the nuances of nonverbal communication, including facial expressions and body language, which are integral to ASL

"Facial expressions aren't just emotion-they're part of the grammar," Ratsch said. "Understanding that helps providers avoid misinterpretations and build trust."

No prior ASL experience is required to enroll in the course. Interested students can find the course listed as SHS 450 Special Topics in Speech and Hearing Sciences: Medical ASL in the WSU course catalog, with sessions offered in the fall and winter.

The department also offers general ASL courses for students interested in further developing their language skills.