ABSTRACT
Objectives:
To identify communication difficulties faced by the nursing staff and to learn the strategies developed for non-oral communication.
Methods:
This is a descriptive, exploratory, level I study with a quantitative approach. The sample group comprised 37 registered nurses and 63 licensed practical nurses of a private hospital who, after undergoing the ethical-legal procedures, answered a questionnaire to identify difficulties faced and strategies used in the care for hearing-impaired patients.
Results:
Difficulty in explaining matters of interest to the patient was reported by 66% of professionals; and 32% reported difficulties in understanding patients in their way of communicate. The strategy adopted by 100% of respondents was mimicry, followed by lip reading, used by 94% of respondents; help from a person accompanying the patient was used by 65%, and written communication by 42% of respondents. Only 1% used communication via the Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS).
Conclusions:
The difficulties found and the strategies adopted by the nursing staff in communicating with hearing-impaired patients justify the need to train these professionals to deliver a more humanized care, developing a more inclusive society for those with special needs.
Keywords:
Hearing impaired persons; Nonverbal communication; Nonverbal communication/nursing; Nonverbal communication/education; Nursing, team/methods; Nursing, team/education; Humanization of assistance; Problem solving; Sign language; Deafness
