Language barriers impede treatment of children with special health care needs

Language barriers can have dangerous consequences for children with special health care needs, according to a new paper. Children with special health care needs account for two-thirds of pediatric hospital admissions and 90 percent of all children’s medical deaths. Of those nearly 18 million children with special health care needs, 13 percent — 2.3 million — reside in a home where a language other than English is spoken.