Hearing Awareness Project
For Nurses, Home Health Care Workers, Physical Therapy Aids and Orderlies: do you have patients who are hard of hearing?
Communication with hearing aid users
- Even if someone is wearing a hearing aid, it does not mean that they can follow what you are saying; ask them to tell you if they do not understand
- The average life span of a hearing aid battery varies greatly; check their strength at least twice a week
- Keep an Assistive Listening Device at your work station to help those who do not have a hearing aid
- Try to reduce background noise such as radios and televisions
Speaking to your patients
- Remember to face patients when speaking to them and ensure they have understood what you are saying
- Speak in a moderate rhythm, try not to change the subject suddenly, and rephrase if your patient has not understood
- Keep a pen and paper handy in case you need to write anything down for clarification
- Make sure you have the listener's attention before you start speaking
- Speak clearly but not too slowly, and do not exaggerate your lip movements; use natural facial expressions and gestures
- If someone does not understand what you have said, do not keep repeating it. Rephrase the subject
- Check that the person you are talking to can follow you; be patient and take the time to communicate properly
- Use plain language; avoid jargon and unfamiliar abbreviations
- To facilitate lip-reading, face the patient and avoid placing objects in front or your face or turning away while speaking
- Augment communication with diagrams and other visual aids
- Ask patients how they prefer to communicate, and mark their notes/files/bed with accessibility symbols to inform other staff
- Request hearing awareness training from CHHA Branches
Copyright © 2009 the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA)
Direct commercial exploitation is not permitted. No warranty of accuracy is given concerning the contents of the information contained in this publication. To the extent permitted by law, no liability (including liability to any person by reason of negligence) will be accepted by CHHA its subsidiaries or employees for any direct, or indirect loss or damage caused by omissions from or inaccuracies in this document. CHHA reserves the right to change details in this publication without notice.
