Health Problems in Sign Language Interpreters and Their Support: Implications and Tasks from the Viewpoint of Demand-Control Theory YOSHIOKA Masako

Recently, there has been an increased need for sign language interpreting for individuals with hearing disabilities. However, health problems among sign language interpreters (hereafter,“interpreters”)have become a serious problem (DeCaro, Feuerstein & Hurwitz, 1992, Feuerstein & Fitzgerd, 1992, Peper & Gibney, 1999, Stedt, 1992). DeCaro et al. (1992) examined interpreters working at educational institutions and reported that approximately 45% of the interpreters were forced to reduce their working hours or completely abandon their jobs due to upper limb pain and malfunctions. Many of them developed cumulative trauma disorders (CTD), including tendinitis and carpal-tunnel syndrome. The high incidence rate of CTD has caused a lack of national level interpreters in the United States (Watson, 1987), and examinations of factors and preventive measures have been important issues of concern. Since the 1989 case of an interpreter with cervicobrachial syndrome who applied for worker’s compensation for an occupational Study Notes Health Problems in Sign Language Interpreters and Their Support: Implications and Tasks from the Viewpoint of Demand-Control Theory