2.1 Outline ways to minimise barriers to communication
I usually help my patients with a hearing impairment:
by communicating the most appropriate way, for example:
facing the person when speaking
using facial expressions and hand gestures as visual clues
expressing myself more clearly
using short but understandable and efficient sentences
speaking slowly but not in an exaggerated way (I never shout)
asking the patients often if they can hear me
adjusting the tone of voice
active listening
questioning (open and closed) or using the ’Yes/No images’
trying saying things a different way if I am not understood
summarizing
clarification
I sometimes show my patient the equipment or a picture of the equipment we are
planning to use, using gestures to show what is going to happen (I found ’The Hospital
Communication Book’ beneficial, especially the pages 18-20 and 49-50.)
I usually help my patients with a visual impairment by:
saying my name and who I am
asking them to tell me what they can or cannot see
keeping the patient informed by explaining what will happen
offering support but let them tell me what they want
offering my arm and guiding their hand to my elbow and saying the direction we are
going
not using visual references such as ’I put your drink next to the green cup.’, as they
may not see clearly
telling them about things like trip hazards that they cannot see perfectly well (such as
leads on the floor)
during walking telling the person about obstacles (for example chair, table, bed or
other people)
How to help people who are deafblind?