Resources
In this section, you will find recent publications, webinars, and other information on hearing care for the Latino/Hispanic community.
Patient Navigators in Cochlear Implant Services
Current practices in the U.S.
Patient navigators (PN) promote access to timely diagnosis and treatment of chronic conditions by eliminating barriers to care. They have been widely used in cancer care since the early 1990s and have played an instrumental role in increasing screening rates, access to treatment, and follow-up care. Following the success seen in cancer care, PN roles have expanded to other specialties that focus on caring for patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and HIV. Considering the nature of a chronic condition such as hearing loss, the complexity of accessing hearing care services, and the documented disparities in access to CI services, the present study examines the role of PNs in CI programs. Citation: Ullauri, A., Kanaris, A., Pritchett, C. V., Velez, A., & Zhan, K. Y. (2025). Patient Navigators in Cochlear Implant Services: A Survey of Current Practices and Utilization. Otology & neurotology open, 5(4), e080. https://doi.org/10.1097/ONO.0000000000000080
Cochlear Implant Services for Spanish-speaking Patients:
Language access and organizational health literacy of programs in the U.S.
In this publication you will learn about current trends in the U.S. related to bilingual providers in CI programs, as well as access to professional interpreters. We also discuss organizational health literacy practices in CI programs. Basically how programs make information about CIs available to their potential patients. Finally we share tips to improve language access and health literacy practices in CI programs. Many of the recommendations can be adopted TODAY! Citation: Ullauri, A., Kramer, T., & Shafiro, V. (2025). Cochlear implant services for Spanish speaking patients: language access and organizational health literacy of programs in the United States of America. Cochlear Implants International, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/14670100.2025.2500830
Not all interpreting types and modalities are a good option for patients with hearing loss
Non-English Language Preference (NELP)
For NELP patients with hearing loss, the interpreting modality we use makes a significant difference. As centers optimize resources to provide interpreting services, they must consider appropriate interpreting modalities for patients with hearing loss. Learn about what the literature says on this topic. Citation: Ullauri A. (2025). Providing Hearing Care for Patients With Non-English Language Preference: Interpreters Types and Delivery Modalities. Ear and hearing, 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001684. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000001684
A Language Tool for Clinical Practice
Key features about this book:
1) The only book that provides clinicians with a compilation of resources, in English and Spanish, ready to use in clinic. 2) More than 25 resources such as clinical history forms, test instructions, standardized questionnaires, self-assessment tools available in English and Spanish to help clinicians provide language-concordant care.
3) A unique format that allows clinicians to visualize English resources on the left-side and Spanish resources on the right-side, facilitating communication between patients, family members, interpreters, and clinicians.
Lost In Translation: Ensuring Non-English Speaking Patients Receive Accurate Health Information
We are so excited this course was so well received, with over 750 reviews! This course focuses on how language barriers impact access and quality of healthcare. It reviews the difficulties non-English speaking patients encounter when navigating the healthcare system and how that may impact the quality of services they receive.
Addressing Health Literacy in Clinical Practice
This course concentrates on helping clinicians build health literacy with their patients and their families. Hearing loss is a chronic condition. Therefore, we must help our patients better understand their diagnosis, develop strategies for long-term self-advocacy and self-management related to hearing protection, hearing loss monitoring, and effective use of hearing technology.
Listening - Language - Literacy
American Cochlear Implant Alliance
We absolutely love this infographic created by the ACI Alliance. It shares a key message for Spanish speaking families: Speak to your children in the language of the home! A task force of individuals who support families of children who are deaf and hard of hearing completed a 5-month collaborative process to develop research-based messages on the benefits of listening for language development and literacy. The Listening - Language - Literacy initiative resulted in the development of an infographic designed to be widely used in supporting families of children who are deaf and hard of hearing and the professionals who serve them. The translation of this infographic into Spanish was completed by Alejandra Ullauri (Audiology En Español) and Mariana Mejía Turnbull (NYU Langone Health). This infographic is currently available in English and Spanish at the ACI Alliance website.
Let's leave behind Limited English Proficiency (LEP)...
And embrace Non-English Language Preference (NELP)!
Rethinking the Term "Limited English Profciency" to Improve
Language‑Appropriate Healthcare for All: This is a great article by Dr. Pilar Ortega and colleagues. It's worth spending some time reflecting on how we view language access in healthcare. We always share this article with all the students we meet during seminars, classes, and other academic forums. Together we can change the narrative!
