Final answer:
To help Mrs. Grunder, who has a hearing aid in but is not responding, it is appropriate to first check whether her hearing aid is turned on before considering other actions such as speaking loudly in her good ear or informing the nurse.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Mrs. Grunder has her hearing aid in but does not respond when you talk to her, and considering that she can follow directions but cannot respond verbally, a possible suitable action would be to check her hearing aid to make sure it is turned on. This is a first step in troubleshooting that is non-invasive and respects Mrs. Grunder's autonomy. It is important to address potential technical issues before assuming that the problem is behavioral, such as being uncooperative or withdrawing.
Since Mrs. Grunder can process information but is unable to produce words, it indicates that the issue might not be her willingness to communicate but rather a technical or health-related issue. Addressing these possible causes is more compassionate and professional than jumping to conclusions about her behavior without proper assessment.
If the hearing aid is on and functioning properly, but she is still not responding, the situation may require further assessment by a healthcare professional to determine if there is a medical or cognitive issue at play.