Alzheimer’s Delirium and Dementia Q 23
Which of the following will Nurse Dory use when communicating with a client who has cognitive impairment?
A. Complete explanations with multiple details.
B. Pictures or gestures instead of words.
C. Stimulating words and phrases to capture the client's attention.
D. Short words and simple sentences.
Correct Answer: D. Short words and simple sentences.
Short words and simple sentences minimize client confusion and enhance communication. Assess the patient’s ability to speak, language deficit, cognitive or sensory impairment, presence of aphasia, dysarthria, aphonia, dyslalia, or apraxia. Presence of psychosis, and/or other neurologic disorders affecting speech. This identifies problem areas and speech patterns to help establish a plan of care.
Option A: Use simple, direct questions requiring one-word answers. Repeat and reword questions if misunderstanding occurs. This promotes self-confidence of the patient who is able to achieve some degree of speech or communication. Encourage the patient to breathe prior to speaking, pause between words, and use the tongue, lips, and jaw to speak. Encourage the patient to control the length and rate of phrases, over articulate words, and separate syllables, emphasizing consonants.
Option B: Although pictures and gestures may be helpful, they would not substitute for verbal communication. When communicating with the patient, face the patient and maintain eye contact, speaking slowly and enunciating clearly in a moderate or low-pitched tone. Clarity, brevity, and time provided for responses promote the opportunity for successful speech by allowing patient time to receive and process the information.
Option C: Complete explanations with multiple details and stimulating words and phrases would increase confusion in a client with short attention span and difficulty with comprehension. Remove competing stimuli, and provide a calm, unhurried atmosphere for communication. This reduces unnecessary noise and distraction and allows patient time to decrease frustration.