You are having trouble communicating with your hearing impaired resident, and she is becoming frustrated and upset. What is the best response?

You are having trouble communicating with your hearing impaired resident, and she is becoming frustrated and upset. What is the best response?

• A. Refer to her care plan to identify any communication techniques that will help you
• B. Try sign language; you learn this in high school
• C. Raise the pitch of your voice so she can hear you
• D. Return to the resident later when she is no longer angry

Answer: (A)

Focusing on individualized communication shows you’re using the resident’s approved plan to guide care. The care plan is set up to reflect each resident’s needs and preferences, including how they communicate best when hearing is limited. By referring to it, you quickly identify the techniques that staff are trained to use with her, such as speaking slowly and clearly, facing her, ensuring good lighting, using simple sentences, and offering written or pictorial aids if needed. This approach reduces frustration by using proven methods, demonstrates respect for her preferences, and keeps your communication consistent with the facility’s standards. Other options miss the mark because they rely on ad hoc or inappropriate strategies: guessing at sign language without training isn’t reliable; raising the voice pitch can distort speech and be irritating or ineffective; waiting to talk until later ignores her immediate need for understanding and can feel dismissive.

Focusing on individualized communication shows you’re using the resident’s approved plan to guide care. The care plan is set up to reflect each resident’s needs and preferences, including how they communicate best when hearing is limited. By referring to it, you quickly identify the techniques that staff are trained to use with her, such as speaking slowly and clearly, facing her, ensuring good lighting, using simple sentences, and offering written or pictorial aids if needed. This approach reduces frustration by using proven methods, demonstrates respect for her preferences, and keeps your communication consistent with the facility’s standards.

Other options miss the mark because they rely on ad hoc or inappropriate strategies: guessing at sign language without training isn’t reliable; raising the voice pitch can distort speech and be irritating or ineffective; waiting to talk until later ignores her immediate need for understanding and can feel dismissive.