Question

A COTA is teaching a resident who has Parkinson’s disease to use adapted utensils

during a mealtime session. The resident has a moderate hearing impairment.
Which approach would be MOST BENEFICIAL for the COTA to include in the
intervention to help the client self-feed?
A.Write instructions on a communication board for the resident.
B.Speak loudly to the resident with a slow rate of speech.
C.Sit facing the resident with facial features clearly visible.

Answer 1

The most beneficial approach for a COTA to help a resident with Parkinson's disease and moderate hearing impairment self-feed would be to sit facing the resident, ensuring that facial features are clearly visible to facilitate lip-reading and the use of visual cues.

Step-by-step explanation:

When teaching a resident with Parkinson’s disease who also has a moderate hearing impairment to use adapted utensils during a mealtime session, the most beneficial approach would include implementing strategies that cater to the resident's strengths. Among the options provided, sitting facing the resident with facial features clearly visible will likely be the most effective strategy.

This approach takes into consideration the importance of visual cues and lip-reading abilities, which can substantially aid communication when hearing is impaired. Moreover, maintaining eye contact and providing a clear view of the therapist's expressions and mouth movements can help the resident understand instructions more effectively.