Answer:
False
Explanation:
A patient that has lost the ability to communicate -- whether verbally, nonverbally, or both -- may still have the ability to hear and comprehend what is being said to them. Because of this, healthcare workers (HCWs) should still speak with these patients the same way they would with patients that have the ability to hold more elaborate conversations with them. HCWs should still introduce themselves by name and title, explain procedures, medications, and assessments being conducted, and otherwise speak them them like regular. If anything, these patients may demand more communication from the HCW because the HCW may be responsible to advocate on the patient's behalf for their needs and desires.
Even with comatose patients, there is a belief and evidence to show that though they may not reply, these patients still exhibit neurological responses to auditory stimuli -- in short, they may still hear. So communicating with these patients is still best practice.
The answer to the given statement is false. HCWs should still communicate like normal with patients that have lost the ability to communicate.
