Research on the additional education and work that nursing staff must put in to care for palliative care patients who have hearing impairments
Palliative care is a specialized form of medical care that aims to improve the quality of life of patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Palliative care patients often have complex physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs that require a multidisciplinary approach. One of the challenges that nursing staff may face when caring for palliative care patients is communicating effectively with those who have hearing impairments.
Hearing impairments are common among older adults and can affect their ability to understand and participate in conversations, especially in noisy environments or when wearing masks. Hearing impairments can also affect the patient’s emotional well-being, as they may feel isolated, frustrated, depressed or anxious. Moreover, hearing impairments can have implications for the patient’s safety, as they may miss important information or instructions, or misunderstand the treatment options or goals of care.
Therefore, nursing staff need to have adequate knowledge and skills to communicate with palliative care patients who have hearing impairments. According to a study by Engel and colleagues, nursing staff should assess the patient’s hearing status and preferences, use appropriate communication strategies and tools, and collaborate with other professionals such as speech-language pathologists, audiologists or interpreters. Some of the communication strategies and tools that nursing staff can use are:
– Using clear speech, speaking slowly and distinctly, but not shouting or exaggerating lip movements
– Facing the patient directly, maintaining eye contact, and ensuring good lighting
– Reducing background noise and distractions
– Using gestures, facial expressions, body language and written materials to supplement verbal communication
– Checking for understanding and feedback, and repeating or rephrasing information if needed
– Using assistive devices such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, amplifiers or induction loops
– Providing written summaries of key information or instructions
– Using sign language or other visual languages if the patient is fluent in them
However, these communication strategies and tools may not be sufficient or appropriate for all palliative care patients who have hearing impairments. Some patients may have additional barriers such as cognitive impairment, low literacy, cultural differences or limited access to resources. Therefore, nursing staff need to tailor their communication to the individual needs and preferences of each patient, and involve the patient’s family or caregivers in the process.
Additionally, nursing staff need to be aware of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Deaf community, which is a group of people who identify as Deaf with a capital D and use sign language as their primary mode of communication. Deaf people may have different views on deafness, health care and end-of-life issues than hearing people. For example, some Deaf people may reject cochlear implants or other medical interventions that aim to restore or enhance hearing, as they may perceive them as a threat to their identity or culture. Furthermore, some Deaf people may prefer to communicate with Deaf professionals or interpreters who share their language and culture.
Therefore, nursing staff need to respect the patient’s autonomy and dignity, and provide culturally sensitive and competent care. Nursing staff should also seek education and training on how to communicate with Deaf patients using sign language or other visual languages. According to a report by Abou-Abdallah and Lamyman, there is a lack of awareness and knowledge among health care providers about the Deaf community and their communication needs. The authors suggest that health care providers should learn basic sign language skills, use qualified interpreters when needed, and collaborate with Deaf organizations and advocates.
In conclusion, nursing staff need to put in additional education and work to care for palliative care patients who have hearing impairments. Nursing staff need to assess the patient’s hearing status and preferences, use appropriate communication strategies and tools, tailor their communication to the individual needs and preferences of each patient, involve the patient’s family or caregivers in the process, respect the patient’s autonomy and dignity, provide culturally sensitive and competent care, seek education and training on how to communicate with Deaf patients using sign language or other visual languages, use qualified interpreters when needed, and collaborate with Deaf organizations and advocates.
Works Cited
: Engel O., et al. Quality Care for Patients With Hearing Impairments in an Inpatient Behavioral Health Setting During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Nursing Care Quality 36.1 (2021): 90-94.
: Abou-Abdallah M., Lamyman A. Exploring communication difficulties with deaf patients. Clinical Medicine 21.4 (2021): e380-e383.
: SLP Roles with Patients with Hearing Impairments – CORP-MSL0 (SPMP). Speech Pathology Masters Programs. https://speechpathologymastersprograms.com/resources/slp-hearing-impaired-patients/. Accessed 14 Nov. 2021.
