What is the appropriate way to communicate with a hearing-impaired patient?

Communicating effectively with a hearing-impaired patient is crucial to ensuring they understand information and feel comfortable. The appropriate way involves speaking clearly, ensuring that you are facing the patient so they can read your lips and observe facial expressions, which are important for context and emotion. Incorporating gestures can help to reinforce the message being conveyed. If the patient still has difficulty understanding, using writing as an additional tool can facilitate communication.

This approach respects the patient's needs and enhances clarity without overwhelming them, which can occur with loud yelling or relying solely on written communication. Engaging through a third party can lead to misunderstandings or delays and is not always the most direct or effective method. Thus, the correct method balances verbal and non-verbal communication tailored to the patient's unique situation.