Studies have shown that about half of all American adults, or around 90 million people, read below a high school level. Thus, it is thought that these adults may face higher risks of health problems because of their difficulty understanding medical terms and directions. Everything from drug labels to consent forms sometimes contain too much medical jargon for people to understand.

Non-English speaking Americans, older adults and those with less education were found to struggle the most, but medical experts also found that native-born English speakers and those with more education also had trouble. The problem of health literacy is compounded by shame and stigma in that patients are embarrassed about reading difficulties or worried that their doctor may look down on them if they ask questions.

Besides the tendency for patients with limited health literacy to need hospital care, there is also the issue of increased costs. One study reported that poor reading skills increased costs by $29 billion back in 1996.

What you can do

If you are confused about something regarding your health care, ask your doctor. Make sure to keep the channels of communication open. Don’t be scared to ask questions or even do research on your own. It’s always best to stay informed.

John Nelson, the American Medical Association’s incoming president sums it up well by saying, “We all need to communicate better…”

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