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

Click here to read the transcript 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 Cool Things Mentioned Craft: the premier membership community for testing psychologists Crafted Practice: the only in-person business retreat for testing psychologists Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists Benton Neuropsychological Clinic at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics: www.uihc.org/benton-neuropsychology-clinic National Council on Interpreting in Health Care: www.ncihc.org Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters: www.cchicertification.org Featured Resources TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing NovoPsych brings 150+ standardized measures into one platform. If you’re interested in high quality measures for personality, disability, ADHD or Autism, try NovoPsych with a 15-day free trial via this link: https://novopsych.com/testingpsychologist  The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Ashby Martin Ashby Martin is a neuroscience researcher whose work focuses on clinical neuropsychology, language accessibility, and health equity. He earned his BS in Neuroscience and Behavior from the University of Notre Dame before completing his PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Iowa in May 2026. His research examines interpreter-mediated neuropsychological assessment among patients with limited English proficiency, with emphasis on test performance, clinical interpretation, and the validity of assessment practices across linguistically diverse populations. Get in touch: Emails: [email protected] and ashbymartin1@jhaynes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashby-martin/ GitHub: https://github.com/ashby-martin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3424-3110 About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to join our Waitlist! Join the Waitlist