How can communication with disabled individuals be improved?
Communicating successfully is essential to providing care services to people who suffer from various disabilities. People with a certain disability might communicate in a different way. Communication problems can develop gradually or suddenly, and you will need to revise how you communicate with an individual you care about.
Consider your tone of voice, speaking rate, and use of body language and gestures to accentuate what you're saying when providing care. Determine what aids them or improves the clarity of your communication. While providing care, the way you respond to their condition may have an impact on someone who has a physical or mental illness or disability. This could alter their communication abilities.
Types of communication problems
Speech problems happen either for no clear reason or because of the below-mentioned issues:
1. Stammer
2. Cleft palate
3. Brain injury
4. Hearing problem
Language disorders
Language disorders are issues with understanding or using words that can result from a stroke or brain injury. Typically, children learn to talk by listening to people around them and mimicking sounds and mouth shapes. It helps them recognise sounds and encourages speech at an early age. Take them to the doctor for an examination if their development appears to be lagging behind.
Some people will grow out of these disabilities as they move into adulthood, while others will have to live with them throughout their adult lives. If given proper speech and managed therapy from a young age, such language disorders can be rectified. Your child's carer for special educational needs or a general practitioner can provide access.
Selective mutism
Selective mutism, which can be characterised as a "fear of speaking," is an anxiety disorder that prevents children from speaking in certain social settings, such as school or in public. However, they are able to speak freely in their comfort zone, such as with family and friends at home, where nobody else is listening. If your child is selectively mute, be patient and don't put too much pressure on them or bribe them to speak.
Deafblindness
Deafblind people have sight and hearing impairments. Some individuals are born deafblind, whereas others become deafblind due to an accident or old age. People who are deafblind may not use language, making it difficult to determine the most effective method of communication with them when providing care.
Communication problems after a stroke
A stroke can cause both mental and physical impairments and make communication difficult for patients. A person who has had a stroke might find it difficult to speak as well as comprehend what others are saying, making it difficult to understand what they want. If a person has difficulty with speech, language, writing, or swallowing, they can be referred for speech and language therapy to regain those skills.
When communicating with a person recovering from a stroke, it is essential to give them your undivided attention and avoid extraneous noise. Try to speak clearly and at a normal volume with them. Make sure you're listening and watching for the person's reactions, as not all communication is verbal. It's also important that you don't pretend you've understood them if you haven't.
A general tip for communicating with people with a disability
1. Communicate with someone with a disability as you would with anyone else by using an age-appropriate tone.
2. If a person with a disability is accompanied by a care provider, you should still speak directly to the person with a disability.
3. Put the person first, rather than their disability.
4. Try to avoid negative phrases such as "suffers from" and "crippled". Use the phrase "people who use a wheelchair" rather than "wheelchair-bound."
Communication strategies while conversing with someone with a physical disability
1. Remember that an individual's personal space can include their wheelchair or crutches. So avoid touching their wheelchair, crutches, or walking stick without their permission.
2. When speaking with someone in a wheelchair, try to find something to sit on so that you can maintain eye contact.
Communication strategies while providing care for someone with a vision impairment
1. When communicating with visually impaired individuals, always address them by their name and introduce yourself.
2. Speak with clarity and a normal tone.
3. Remember when communicating with visually impaired individuals that they can't rely on visual cues like others. So make sure you verbalise any thoughts or feelings.
4. Don't try to feed, play with, or pet a guide dog that is accompanying a person because they are there to support them.
5. When entering or exiting a room, notify the person so they are not left speaking in an empty room.
Communication strategies while providing care for someone with a hearing disability
1. Gain their attention before speaking by gently tapping their shoulder, waving, or showing some signs.
2. Face the individual directly so that they can read your mouth and maintain eye contact.
3. Don't speak too fast, too slow, or too loud, and use short sentences while maintaining a natural tone.
4. Don't exaggerate your mouth movement, as that will only make it difficult for them to read your lips.
Communication strategies while conversing with someone with an intellectual disability
1. Make sure you have the individual's attention before you start to talk. Try addressing them by name and making eye contact.
2. Keep your communication simple and avoid using jargon.
3. Remember that your body language is important, as intellectually disabled people will rely on visual cues.
4. Be prepared to use visual information or to get visual information from people with an intellectual disability.
5. Be specific and direct. Avoid using abstracts, acronyms, metaphors, or puns.
Communication strategies while providing care for someone with a mental disability
Mental illness is a health issue that significantly affects an individual's thinking, behaviour, and ability to interact with others. Here are a few things that need to be looked into while communicating with a mentally disabled person.
1. Be sure to speak in a relaxed, calm manner and be aware of individuals becoming upset or confused by your conversation with them.
2. Be a good listener, be responsive, and make eye contact with a caring approach.
3. Reduce any defensiveness by sharing your feelings and looking for common ground.
4. Communicate in a straightforward manner and stick to one topic at a time.
5. Give them the opportunity to talk and open up, but don't press.
A disability may be present at birth or develop later in life. It is essential to recognise that a disability should not prevent a person from leading a happy existence. Providing care to a person with a disability requires effective communication, and the aforementioned suggestions will assist a carer.
Nurses Group Homecare in Yeovil, UK, provides a wide range of disability care. We hire staff who can communicate effectively with clients and also provide training so that their communication skills are enhanced to handle individuals who are receiving disability care.