Hand/wrist disorders among sign language communicators

The study assessed the frequency of self-reported hand/wrist problems among sign language communicators, including interpreters, deaf or hard-of-heari ng individuals, and educators. Comparisons were also made between sign lang uage communicators and the general population regarding the frequency of me dically diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome. A survey was mailed to attendees of a national conference that focused on the quality of postsecondary educa tional opportunities for students with hearing deficits. Fifty-nine percent of 184 respondents reported experiencing hand/wrist problems. Twenty-six p ercent reported experiencing hand/wrist problems severe enough to limit the ability to work, and 18% reported a medical diagnosis of wrist tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or both. The frequency of self-reported, medically diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome for the surveyed sign language communicat ors was five times the rate experienced by working Americans between ages 1 8 and 60 years (Tanaka, Wild, Seigman, Halperin, Behrens, & Putz-Anderson, 1995). The study supports increased emphasis on and availability of hand/wr ist disorder risk reduction programs for sign language users.