590. The Impact of Interpreters in Neuropsychology w/ Ashby Martin

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In this episode, I sit down with Ashby Martin to explore the intersection of clinical neuropsychology, neurolinguistics, and language barriers. We examine Ashby’s extensive research analyzing 50 years of patient data, comparing outcomes between interpreter-mediated assessments and clinician-led evaluations in the patient’s native language. We discuss the statistical reality of performance drops during interpreted testing, the historical evolution of interpreter certification, and practical strategies clinicians can use to improve diagnostic accuracy when working across linguistic lines.

01:13: Definition of limited English proficiency and its prevalence in the US

04:09: Overview of neurolinguistics and its application to neuropsychological testing

10:21: Study methodology: matching limited English proficiency patients across 50 years of clinic files

13:29: Major findings: performance drops and score variability in interpreter-mediated testing

15:23: Historical timeline of speech interpreter certifications and legislative standards

32:14: Findings on clinician-led evaluations in Spanish removing diagnostic discrepancies

38:17: The “shadow interpreter” model and practical tips for bilingual clinicians

47:44: Sub-analysis findings: cognitive domains, degree of test verbalness, and litigation status

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