Communication with clients having hyperthyroidism
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Introduction
Communication is an important aspect in the client – healthcare provider relationship because it builds a foundation and the doctor or nurse can provide useful and timely diagnosis that the client sorely needs (Doenges & Moorhouse, 2012). Communication is also imperative in building trusting relationships with patients and their families. Such relationships are built upon honest communication between the two parties involved. The value of communication between these parties is also highlighted fact that it produces a therapeutic effect for the client as has been validated in a controlled studies.
The following essay examines the situation whereby a particular condition impacts a client's ability to communicate and the effects the condition may have on the patient’s ability to communicate including the psychological and the physical impact of the disorder. The condition, hyperthyroidism, is examined in order to determine its effects together with the role of a speech therapist in helping such clients impacted by the condition in the health environment. The patient has had a thyroid gland surgically removed. Furthermore, the means and the strategies that the professional may employ in facilitating effective communication in order to build therapeutic relationships is examined. The strategies may include basic communication skills and non-verbal.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which highly active thyroid gland produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormone that circulate in our body. An excessive amount of thyroids in the body causes a toxic condition called thyrotoxicosis, such a condition is caused by its intake or production of too much of the hormone by the thyroid gland (Friedman & Yu, 2006). Thyroid hormones usually regulate the rate of metabolism of the cells and the common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include restlessness, tremors, weight loss, and this is in spite of an increased appetite, rapid heart rate and frequent bowel movements. An example of a client who has had surgery to remove the thyroid gland as a remedy is considered. After the surgery, the client may experience hoarseness and weakness of the voice thus verbal communication may be impaired. Such patients usually experience pain when trying to speak, therefore, and verbal communication is completely painful and maybe impaired even though non-verbal communication is not impacted or impaired in any way.
Speech therapists assess and treat speech, communication and language problems in clients of all ages in order to help them communicate better (Shipley & McAfee, 2008). Speech therapists also work in trying to help people with eating and swallowing difficulties. The speech therapist role is important in helping the thyroidectomy client who is having difficulty producing and using speech and also a voice problem due to the surgery. Furthermore, the speech therapist can be able to help the client in swallowing that might help in reversing the trend of the client losing weight through the consumption of the necessary foods and nutrients. Such efforts are invaluable in the multi-disciplinary team treating the client’s condition.
As a healthcare professional, there are a wide range of communication strategies and methods that can be used to build rapport and communicate therapeutically with the client, it is good to note that, verbal impairment is evidenced the client using nonverbal cues, the client not being able to articulate himself or herself and cannot speak because of a lack of voice. The following strategies can be applied:
First and foremost, a healthcare profession needs to reduce demand for s verbal response from the client, therefore, a perfect and clear strategy is keeping communication simple through asking a yes or no question (Turner, 2007). Such a strategy is crucial because it promotes voice rest and reduces strain on the client. This results in a reduced chance for permanent nerve damage which may result in paralysis of the vocal chords. Though such a case may be rare, it worth not taking the risk and, therefore, keeping communication simple and giving the client enough time to respond is a good strategy. Furthermore, asking questions that need short answers is important. Such a strategy also enables the client to feel at ease and help in building the all-important therapeutic relationship with the client (Matthews & Treacher, 2004). As an added feature, as a profession entails encouraging the client to nod his head is also appropriate as it is simple and allows the clients to seek and have what he wants without straining the vocal chords. An important factor to consider.
Secondly, as a healthcare profession, providing alternative methods of communications is very appropriate, such alternative modes of communication include providing a slate board, picture or letter boards. These methods facilitates and provides an effective way for the client to express his or her needs thus the client is accorded the necessary medical attention and is catered to effectively (Jongsma Jr, Landis, & Vander Woude, 2004). Furthermore, such a non-verbal communication way lessens the burden of speaking from the client and all his or her energy is channelled towards full recovery. This method improves interaction between the client and the healthcare professions including the speech therapist thus building a strong therapeutic relationship that is mutually beneficial and to the client’s benefit (Ferguson & Armstrong, 2004).
Finally, as a health profession, anticipating the possible needs of the patient is a crucial aspect in the profession and the healthcare provider needs to visit the patient frequently. This strategy reduces the client’s anxiety and the need to communicate, therefore, the need to summon or ask for help. The healthcare profession can also monitor the client’s body language to interpret the client’s nonverbal communications and without straining the voice, the client’s condition is ascertained by the healthcare team. Conclusion
Hyperthyroidism is a truly unimaginable medical condition that may results in bad outcomes which may include terrible weight loss, high metabolic rates, tremors, rapid heart rates and frequent bowel movement. Clearly uncomfortable symptoms that the client has to face every day. Surgery offers a respite to such a situation even though it usually comes with the possibility of the client not being able to speak for quite some time. The role of the healthcare providers and the speech therapists comes handy in such times.
A multi-disciplinary team consisting of speech and the healthcare providers must come with clear strategies to help the client. Such strategies include: reducing responses and speaking demands from the client through asking of simple yes and no questions; providing other alternatives and nonverbal forms of communication and finally anticipating the client’s possible needs and offering frequent visits. Such methods offer a way of effective communication and enhancing the therapeutic relationship. Furthermore, the above communication strategies serve to improve the overall health condition of the client and gaining weight.

References
Dickson, D. H. (1996). Communication skills training for health professionals. Sydney: Nelson Thornes.
Doenges, M. E., & Moorhouse, M. F. (2012). Application of Nursing Process and Nursing Diagnosis: An Interactive Text for Diagnostic Reasoning. Sydney: F.A. Davis Company.
Ferguson, A., & Armstrong, E. (2004). Reflections on speech-language therapists' talk: Implications for clinical practice and education. International journal of language & communication disorders, 39(4), 469-507.
Friedman, T. C., & Yu, W. (2006). The Everything Health Guide to Thyroid Disease: Professional Advice on Getting the Right Diagnosis, Managing Your Symptoms, and Feeling Great. London: Everything Books.
Jongsma Jr, A. E., Landis, K., & Vander Woude, J. (2004). The Speech and Language Pathology Treatment Planner (Vol. 152). Sydney: John Wiley & Sons.
Matthews, S., & Treacher, A. (2004). Therapy models and supervision in clinical psychology. Supervision and clinical psychology: Theory, practice and perspectives, 186-208.
Shipley, K., & McAfee, J. (2008). Assessment in speech-language pathology: A resource manual. Melbourne: Cengage Learning.
Turner, S. O. (2007). The nursing career planning guide. London: Jones & Bartlett Learning.