Communication
With Deafblind People In Hospital.
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1) Communication is easy and can be learned in half an hour.
It is essential that Doctors and nurses attending a deafblind person should
have communication.
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2) Lack of the ordinary "warning" faculties of sight and
hearing means that any approach to a deafblind person should be gentle
and never sudden otherwise the person will become startled and frightened.
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3) Information: Without sight and hearing there is no way
of knowing what is passing one's immediate vicinity and therefore a perpetual
sense of worrying what is happening. To lessen this, it is necessary that
time should be taken to explain any movement - e.g. If the patient is required
to move to another place, the reason should be given. All treatment should
be fully explained to ensure the patient's co-operation.
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4) Identifying oneself: unless one has some unmistakable
identification mark, such as a ring or a brooch, one's name should always
be given at each approach or some agreed sign, such as a double squeeze
of the hand, so that the patient knows at once to whom he is speaking.
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5) People who cannot see or hear are even more sensitive
about intimate hospital routines and it is necessary to assure them positively
that they can ask for what is needed and must not be shy. If not bedridden,
a patient should be able to reach the toilet easily.
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6) Listen carefully to what the patient says. Do not assume
that it is gibberish. Sheer nervousness may well be making it very hard
for the patient to express what he/ she means and if no notice is taken,
that sets up a feeling of despair.
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7) Remember always how utterly isolated such a person is
and how much they need to be convinced that they are amongst friends. Again
direct communication is vital. Interpretation by a third person can lead
to quite erroneous diagnosis.
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8) Be sure the patient know where all personal possessions
are and that they are never moved from place to place.
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9) Ensure that the patient can locate and use emergency call
bell.
A-Z to Deafblindness http://www.deafblind.com