Promoting Effective Communication for

ritical care staff who manage intubated patients often experience difficulties with one of the most basic human functions: communication. Patients with endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes are unable to communicate verbally because of the placement of the tube and inflation of the tube’s cuff, which prevents passage of air across the vocal cords. Despite the inability to produce speech, these patients can communicate effectively via other methods. Intubated patients communicate with nurses, other cli-nicians, and family members prima-rily through gestures, head nods, mouthing of words, and writing.1 Other communication methods include letter/picture boards, lists of common words or phrases tailored to meet individual patients ’ needs