This article describes the translation goals, challenges, strategies, and solutions employed in the development of a computer-based, self administered, psychiatric diagnostic instrument, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for the Deaf (D-DIS-IV) in American Sign Language (ASL) with English captions. The article analyzes the impact of the differences between ASL and English as well as the influence upon psychiatric content of the life experiences of respondents with normal hearing and deafness. The authors describe solutions for bridging these differences in the translation of a self-administered, computer based, psychiatric diagnostic interview. (Contains 1 note, 1 table, and 2 figures.)