I hear but work with many deaf patients. I've learned a small amount of signing and know my alphabet. This is something i really want to get better at. The Tennessee School for the Deaf offer courses to medical personal free.
I'm mad at myself for not getting that done.
For me, to communicate with a deaf patient is frustrating because i'm not fluent or even close. What has been so precious to me is that deaf people smile at those of us who try and have soooo much patience. Just for me to spell my name and explain i'm a nurse takes a lot of time.
Speaking of time...it is time i get to those classes. Enough procrastination.
BTW i just want to say that i think signing is beautiful and those among us who cannot hear, seem to have an inner intuition that is a plane above us hearing folks, and it cannot be matched.
__________________
~ I've learned that people will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~
Maya Angelou
|