If a resident with hearing impairment does not respond after you speak, what should you do?

• A. Check that the hearing aid is in place
• B. Shout louder
• C. Turn up TV volume
• D. Speak to the caregiver instead

Answer: (A)

When someone has a hearing impairment, the first thing to check if they don’t respond is whether their hearing aid is in place and functioning. Often the issue is simply that the device isn’t being used, isn’t turned on, or has a dead battery, and the person may not hear you even when you speak. By quickly confirming the hearing aid is properly placed, turned on, and has a fresh battery, you address the most common, fixable barrier to communication.

If the device is in place and you still don’t get a response, adjust your approach—face the resident, speak clearly at a normal pace, and reduce background noise. Shouting louder or turning up the TV volume can be disruptive and still won’t help if the device isn’t working, and talking to a caregiver bypasses addressing the resident directly.