| Treating Patients with Visual Impairment | | | | When first speaking to someone with sight loss, |
| Patients who are blind or vision impaired will have | | | | tell them who you are - your name and your role. |
| different needs to other groups. In the general | | | | Don't rely on them recognising your face, name |
| population, 70% of information is visual. Sight loss | | | | badge or uniform. Also as they may meet a |
| can therefore totally change the way that people | | | | number of staff in quick succession; it is not |
| communicate. Getting communication right is so | | | | certain they will remember you on later occasions. |
| important, but obviously difficult in a busy | | | | There is a limit to the number of voices a human |
| environment. | | | | can remember! |
| Varying Needs | | | | Normally when healthcare staff listen, they nod |
| People vary in what they can see, and this | | | | and make eye contact to show interest. Where |
| reflects in what they need from communication. | | | | talking to someone with severe sight loss, you |
| A small number of patients will be totally blind. | | | | may need to make this more verbal. Again this is |
| Aside from this, there is a huge variation in types | | | | something you probably have plenty of practice |
| of sight loss. | | | | at in telephone calls. If you are taking notes whilst |
| Someone who has central vision loss (e.g. Macular | | | | talking to someone, let them know this as it will |
| Disease) may not see faces or expressions; they | | | | explain silences. |
| may not see written signs, or be able to read a | | | | Using gestures and expressions is fine if this helps |
| hospital menu card. However they may be able to | | | | you to communicate naturally. However, try to |
| find their way around safely. | | | | reflect what you are feeling in your voice as well. |
| If you are treating a patient with peripheral vision | | | | This means that patients who are blind or visually |
| loss (e.g. Glaucoma, Retinitis Pigmentosa) be | | | | impaired get more feedback to what they are |
| aware that they may not see what is right next | | | | saying. |
| to them; though may be able to see straight | | | | This article won't have covered every situation |
| ahead very clearly. As an example of how to | | | | that you as nurses, doctors and other healthcare |
| work with them, if you give them something, | | | | staff encounter. Where you are not sure on |
| physically hand it to them rather than leaving it | | | | something it is often best to ask your patient |
| next to them. | | | | themselves. They are the expert on how much |
| Although people differ in many ways, one | | | | help they need, and how best to help them. And |
| common need is for a good level of ambient light. | | | | they will probably appreciate the personal touch of |
| Get this right and communication will be much | | | | your effort to get it right. |
| smoother for patients with partial sight. | | | | What's most important to remember? |
| Communication Tips | | | | Everyone is different, and what people need in |
| If you remember one thing it is this: make your | | | | communication partly depends on the type of |
| communication verbal, not visual. Simply think of | | | | sight loss they have. Focus on the verbal aspect |
| communicating as you do on the telephone. | | | | of your communication. And if in doubt, ask. |