I've been a nurse for more than 50 years, and a nursing instructor for much of that time, but I'm not aware of a reliable means of communicating with those who are hard of hearing ("Hard of Hearing Is Not Deaf," Viewpoint, February). Nor have I read or heard a discussion about which types of communication are best for patients who are deaf versus those who are hard of hearing.

My mother-in-law is deaf in one ear and very hard of hearing in the other. Beyond facing her and speaking loudly, we have no other strategies to improve our communication with her. It would be nice to have these, both to alleviate our frustration and to enhance her interactions in social situations. A follow-up article detailing such strategies would be a great service to nurses and other health care professionals.

Shannon E. Perry, PhD, RN, FAAN

Phoenix