Special Communication Needs

Five critical factors must be present for communication to be successful. The must be a:

SENDER: The Sender is the person that starts the communication.
MESSAGE: The Message is formed by the Sender.
MEDIUM: The Sender chooses how she will communicate. It may be through speaking, writing, typing, or even by using sign language.
RECEIVER: Someone must hear, read or see the message and understand its meaning.
FEEDBACK: The receiver must provide feedback that shows the message was understood.

The Sender may fail to form a clear message. For example, a Sender may say, “You need coronary bypass surgery to mitigate your myocardial insufficiency.” While this makes perfect sense to the Sender . . . it may be nothing more than gibberish to the Receiver.
The Medium may not be appropriate. For example, providing written instructions to someone who cannot read will not get the message through.
The Receiver may have a barrier such as hearing loss, visual impairment, brain injury, stroke, or even Alzheimer’s Disease . . . all of which can block or distort communication.

Expect it to take longer: Caring for clients with special communication needs may take longer than caring for other clients. Set aside enough time to do what you need to do.
Acknowledge frustrations: Being unable to communicate can be frustrating and isolating. Watch for signs of depression or helplessness.
Manage environmental noise: Keep distractions such as television and radio at a minimum when talking to your client. This will keep the client focused, and enhance your ability to listen.
Think about every word you speak: Use short sentences and ask only one question at a time. This keeps the client focused on one thought at a time.
Speak slowly and distinctly: Repeat key words to prevent confusion.
Encourage socializing: Ask family members to talk to the client even though he may not respond. This decreases the sense of isolation and may assist in recovery