A client in long-term care consistently turns their left ear towards you when you speak and frequently asks you to repeat yourself. When you are speaking, they often watch your mouth. What is the most appropriate initial action for the HCA to take to improve communication?

Question: A client in long-term care consistently turns their left ear towards you when you speak and frequently asks you to repeat yourself. When you are speaking, they often watch your mouth. What is the most appropriate initial action for the HCA to take to improve communication?

Answer options:

• Speak loudly and quickly to ensure they hear you.
• Use simple hand gestures only, without speaking. ✅ Ensure you are speaking clearly, at a moderate pace, and facing the client directly.
• Document the observation for the nurse and avoid further verbal communication.

Correct answer: Ensure you are speaking clearly, at a moderate pace, and facing the client directly.

Explanation: Speaking clearly, at a moderate pace, and facing the client directly allows them to use visual cues (lip-reading) and their stronger ear to better process what is being said, which are effective communication strategies for hearing loss. Increasing volume too much can distort sound, and avoiding verbal communication is not person-centred care.