The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2022 - 19

medical) so that we can
be as accurate as possible.
As mentioned previously,
we need to focus on not
changing the message
we're conveying.
y Professionalism: As with
other aspects in our field,
it's essential to devote
ourselves to professional
development. Hearing
technology continues to
evolve and so do tests and
methods of intervention.
Stay abreast of this
evolution and be open to
learning more from the
professionals and families
you work with. We're not
required to know it all, but
we're expected to always
be willing to learn.
y Impartiality and
Neutrality: We will not
always agree with the
decisions families make
for their children, but
these are their decisions.
We may be frustrated
by what we consider a
lack of understanding
on their part, but let's
not underestimate our
patients. If we've done
our job correctly, they'll
have the information
they need. It's also true
that sometimes we get
attached to a patient,
especially if we get to
work with them through
many appointments in
their journey. This is a
completely natural thing,
and we don't necessarily
need to suppress it or be
ashamed. The key is not to
let this attachment show
outwardly. We need to
treat all patients the same,
regardless of who we like
best. On this same token,
remember that, as far as
patients and professionals
www.ata-chronicle.online
are concerned, we have
no opinions.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
y Role Boundaries:
In connection with
impartiality, we need
to remember that as
interpreters, our main job
is to interpret. If we're
doing something else,
we need to ask ourselves
if we should be there
at all. Beyond minor
participation, we're not a
part of the conversations
being had or the decisions
being made.
y Confidentiality: Some
appointments will be
emotional and take a toll
on us. In these instances,
we'll need to debrief with
a colleague or talk to a
friend or family member.
Please remember to always
protect the information of
the family. Don't mention
any protected health
information. If necessary,
make up a name for the
child and the professional
with whom you're working.
A Very Rewarding
Experience
There's certainly a lot to be
careful about, but in the end
it's an amazing experience to
witness the journey of a child
who faces the challenge of
learning two languages while
having hearing loss. There's
no doubt that these children
and their families work extra
hard for communication, and
we're there to facilitate that.
This gives us a " superhero "
feeling and makes us very
aware of the importance
of our role. Let's live up to
this wonderful opportunity
to empower these very
special children!
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
www.asha.org
Beginnings
www.ncbegin.org
(Nonprofit that helps parents understand hearing
loss and the needs of children who are deaf and
hard of hearing)
International Medical Interpreters Association
IMIA Guide to Ethical Conduct
https://imiaweb.org/uploads/pages/376_2.pdf
NOTES
1.
2.
3.
4.
" Hearing Loss and Children, " Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, https://bit.ly/CDC-hearing-loss-children.
Cochlear, www.cochlear.com/us/en/home.
Med-El, www.medel.com.
International Phonetic Alphabet,
www.internationalphoneticalphabet.org
5.
Douglas, Michael. Dual-Language Learning for Children with
Hearing Loss (Med-El, 2014).
María Baker, CT received her MA in Spanish
and teaching English to speakers of other
languages at West Virginia University in 2013.
Passionate about professional development, she
has nine years of experience in interpreting and
translation. She became a certified medical interpreter in 2014
and a certified health care interpreter in 2018. She became
an ATA-certified English>Spanish translator in 2021. She has
conducted training for health care providers on interpreting
and delivered workshops for interpreters. She is vice president
of the Interpreters and Translators Association of Alabama.
She is a former editor of Caduceus, the newsletter of ATA's
Medical Division, volunteers on the Social Media Committee
of ATA's Spanish Language Division, and is a member of the
Professional Development Committee. info@maria-baker.com
American Translators Association 19
http://www.asha.org http://www.ncbegin.org https://www.imiaweb.org/uploads/pages/376_2.pdf https://www.bit.ly/CDC-hearing-loss-children http://www.cochlear.com/us/en/home http://www.medel.com http://www.internationalphoneticalphabet.org http://www.ata-chronicle.online
The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2022

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