Question

A medical assistant is checking in a patient who is hearing impaired . Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

A. Speak loudly and enunciate clearly to ensure the patient can hear you.
B. Use a pen and paper to write down information or questions for the patient.
C. Assume the patient can lip-read and continue conversation as usual.
D. Request a family member to interpret for the patient.

Answer 1

The medical assistant should use a pen and paper to communicate with a patient who is hearing impaired, ensuring clear understanding without assuming the ability to lip-read or hear amplified speech.

Step-by-step explanation:

When checking in a patient who is hearing impaired, the most appropriate action for a medical assistant to take is to use a pen and paper to write down information or questions for the patient. This ensures clear communication without the assumption that the patient can lip-read or hear well enough, even if you speak loudly and enunciate clearly. Relying on a family member to interpret may breach confidentiality and not all hearing impaired individuals can lip-read effectively, which is why the pen-and-paper method is more considerate of the patient's needs and promotes better comprehension.