A newly admitted client who has schizophrenia and hearing loss: which action should the nurse take first when communicating with the client?

A newly admitted client who has schizophrenia and hearing loss: which action should the nurse take first when communicating with the client?

• A. Face the client when speaking so the client can read lips
• B. Evaluate the client's understanding of the message
• C. Contact a sign-language interpreter to communicate with the client
• D. Determine how the client prefers to communicate

Answer: (A)

Facing the client when you speak is the first thing to do because it directly removes the main barrier to communication: hearing loss. By positioning yourself so your face is visible, the client can read your lips and pick up facial expressions and cues, which greatly improve understanding from the outset. This simple, immediate step helps ensure the message is received more accurately, which is especially important for someone with schizophrenia who may misinterpret what’s being said if the message isn’t clearly conveyed. After you’ve made yourself easy to read, you can then verify understanding, adjust your pace, or use additional supports if needed. If lip-reading and spoken language still don’t meet the client’s needs, you would consider a sign-language interpreter or other communication methods, and you’d discuss the client’s preferred method of communication. But the essential first move is to ensure the client can see your face to facilitate clear reception of the message.

Facing the client when you speak is the first thing to do because it directly removes the main barrier to communication: hearing loss. By positioning yourself so your face is visible, the client can read your lips and pick up facial expressions and cues, which greatly improve understanding from the outset. This simple, immediate step helps ensure the message is received more accurately, which is especially important for someone with schizophrenia who may misinterpret what’s being said if the message isn’t clearly conveyed.

After you’ve made yourself easy to read, you can then verify understanding, adjust your pace, or use additional supports if needed. If lip-reading and spoken language still don’t meet the client’s needs, you would consider a sign-language interpreter or other communication methods, and you’d discuss the client’s preferred method of communication. But the essential first move is to ensure the client can see your face to facilitate clear reception of the message.