Communicating With Patients Who Have Special Needs

COMMUNICATING WITH PATIENTS WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS

Communicating with elderly:

·         Keep noise levels to a minimum

·         Be an attentive listener. Allow time for conversation

·         Do not speak loudly or shout.

·         Keep sentences short and simple.

·         Talk to the client's level of understanding.

·         Always ask for feedback.

·         Allow time for comprehension.

·         Face the client.

Communication with children:

·         Use Simple words and direct statements.

·         Speak softly and gently.

·         Use toys to promote expression.

·         Encourage the child to express fear, anxiety, anger and concerns.

·         Readily listen to the child.

·         Maintain eye contact.

·         Use motivating words.

·         Get the child's attention before speaking.

·         Try not to interrupt in between.

Patients with difficulty hearing:

·         Avoid shouting

·         Use simple sentences

·         Punctuate speech with facial expression and gestures

·         Get the client's attention and face the client.

·         Talk towards the client's best or normal ear.

·         Be sure hearing aid is clean, inserted properly and has a functioning battery.

·         Reduce background noise.

Patients with difficulty seeing:

·         Communicate verbally before touching the patient.

·         Orient the patient to sounds in the environment.

·         Inform the patient when the conversation is over and when you are leaving the room.

Patients who are mute or cannot speak clearly:

·         Listen attentively, be patient and do not interrupt.

·         Ask simple questions that require "yes" or "no" answers.

·         Allow time for understanding and responses.

·         Use pictures or objects when possible.

·         Allow only one person to speak at a time.

·         Do not shout or speak too loudly.

·         Encourage the patient to converse.

      Patients who are cognitively impaired:

·         Reduce environmental distractions while conversing.

·         Get the patient's attention before speaking.

·         Use simple sentences and avoid long explanations.

·         Ask one question at a time.

·         Allow time for the patient to respond.

      Patients who are unconscious:

·         Call the patient by name during interactions.

·         Communicate both verbally and by touch.

·         Speak to the patient as though he or she could hear.

·         Explain all procedures.

·         Johnson ct al (1989) suggest that communication directed at the unconscious patient may cause stress and anxiety.

·         La Puma et al (1988) believe that unconscious patients may have a normal auditory response, and that not talking 10 them suggests that they are not likely to recover, which increases their sense of vulnerability.