What is essential to do when assisting a patient who has forgotten their hearing aids?

Facial cues are an important part of communication, especially for individuals with hearing impairments. When assisting a patient who has forgotten their hearing aids, positioning oneself to allow the patient to see your lips is crucial. This enables the patient to read lip movements and better understand the conversation, significantly aiding communication.

Maintaining eye contact and facing the patient while speaking helps provide visual cues, which can enhance their comprehension of spoken language. This practice accommodates those who may rely on lip-reading as a supplementary method of processing auditory information.

In contrast, speaking loudly, while it may seem helpful, does not take into account the nuances of speech that can be affected by visibility. Additionally, using jargon can lead to confusion, making communication even more challenging for the patient. Therefore, positioning oneself to allow for lip-reading is the best approach in effectively assisting someone who forgets their hearing aids.