A nurse is communicating with a client who has a hearing impairment. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to facilitate effective communication?
A.
Speak loudly and slowly.
B.
Face the client directly and maintain eye contact.
C.
Use gestures and facial expressions to emphasize key points.
D.
Repeat the same information using different words if the client does not understand.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B. Face the client directly and maintain eye contact.
When communicating with a client who has a hearing impairment, several strategies can be employed to ensure that the communication is clear, effective, and respectful. Facing the client directly and maintaining eye contact is essential because individuals with hearing impairments often rely on lip-reading and facial cues to understand spoken words. By positioning yourself directly in front of the client, they have a better chance of reading your lips, observing your facial expressions, and focusing on your nonverbal cues, which play a crucial role in the interpretation of spoken language.
Why “B” is the Correct Answer
Maintaining eye contact and directly facing the client creates a sense of engagement and attentiveness, which fosters better communication. It also reduces distractions from the environment, enabling the client to concentrate on the conversation. This technique is beneficial because some hearing-impaired clients may not wear hearing aids or may have partial hearing loss that requires visual assistance for understanding speech. The use of clear enunciation and natural facial expressions helps the client follow along with the conversation more effectively.
Why Other Options Are Less Effective:
- A. Speak loudly and slowly: Speaking loudly can distort sounds and may not necessarily help the client understand the message. Instead, the nurse should speak clearly and at a moderate pace without shouting, as yelling can cause discomfort and make it harder to read lips.
- C. Use gestures and facial expressions: While this can complement communication, it should not be the primary method. Gestures and facial expressions are important but not as effective as directly facing the client and ensuring clear, consistent verbal communication.
- D. Repeat the same information using different words: While rephrasing can be useful in some instances, repeating information without clear visual cues or proper positioning (eye contact) might not enhance communication. The key is to ensure the client can both see and hear effectively, which is why facing the client is paramount.
Overall, combining verbal communication with appropriate nonverbal cues, like facing the client and maintaining eye contact, is the most effective way to engage with a hearing-impaired individual.