caring for patients who are deaf. these accommodations could include qualified sign language interpreters, cdis, and technology such as internet interpretation services. a qualified sign language interpreter will enhance communication between a deaf individual and a health care professional by interpreting not only a health professional's verbal communication, but also their non-verbal such as expressions, perceptions, and body language. a certified deaf interpreter (cdi) is a sign language interpreter who is also a member of the deaf community. they accompany a sign language interpreter and are useful for communication with deaf individuals who also have language or cognitive deficits. a cdi will transform what the health care professional communicates into basic, simple language. this method takes much longer, however it can also be more effective than other techniques. internet interpretation services are convenient and less costly, but can potentially pose significant risks. they involve the use of a sign language interpreter over a video device rather than directly in the room. this can often be an inaccurate form of communication because the interpreter may not be licensed, is often unfamiliar with the patient and their signs, and can lack knowledge of medical terminology. aside from utilizing interpreters, healthcare professionals can improve their communication with deaf or hard of hearing patients by educating themselves on common misconceptions and proper practices depending on the patient's needs. for example, a common misconception is that exaggerating words and speaking loudly will help the patient understand more clearly. however, many individuals with hearing loss depend on lip-reading to identify words. exaggerated pronunciation and a raised voice can distort the lips, making it even more difficult to understand. another common mistake health care professionals make are the use of single words rather than full sentences. although language should be kept simple and short, keeping context is important because certain homophonous words are difficult to distinguish by lip-reading. health care professionals can further improve their own communication with their patients by eliminating any background noise and positioning themselves in a way where their face is clearly visible to the patient, and suitably lit. the healthcare professional should know how to use body language and facial expressions to properly communicate different feelings.