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Language and communication barriers between health care providers and Mexican - Americans are discussed. It is pointed out that communication problems between members of different social classes exist when differing ethnic backgrounds are involved. Studies on language and communication barriers to health care are reviewed. Social conditioning plays a significant role in the stages of medical intervention: the expression of symptoms, diagnoses, prescription of therapy, treatment, continuation of treatment, and followup. Communication problems specifically related to stages of medical intervention are explored. The effect of social conditions on communication between health workers and Mexican - American consumers of health care is assessed. It is concluded that perceptual differences in socioeconomic status between consumers and providers of health care tend to become magnified when cultural differences are added to the overall health communication situation. Inadequate communication is viewed as an impediment to better health care delivery for Mexican - Americans. One recommendation for improving health delivery is to recruit Mexican - American patient representatives to help solve the authority - identity problem and remove institutional obstacles.