Communicating with patients who have disability

Communication with patients who have disability can be hindered by a variety of barriers. Cognitively impaired patients for example may have a limited ability to report their pain experience. As such, it is important to explore alternative communication strategies in order to try and get as much information from the patient as possible. Practicing this skill can lead to better health care outcomes due to the paramedic getting as much information as possible from a patient with limited communication ability. Lord (2009) explores communication with disabled patients and the effectiveness of pain management. He states that paramedics have an important role in the assessment and management of pain but effective management depends on the paramedic’s ability to gather relevant clinical information. Lord continues to explore communication strategies such as using number scales or simply observing nonverbal cues such as facial expressions and changes in body language and behavior. This study explores how verbal communication may fail in cases of individuals with disability so it is important to recognize other forms of communication. Though it is not 100% effective, relying on more than simple verbal cues can help the paramedic gather more information and improve pain management translating to better health outcomes. It is important to be aware of an individual’s overreliance on verbal communication which may fail in cases where a patient’s ability is limited.