Can the dying (person in a coma) hear us?

My best friend was in a coma before dying from a massive heart attack. The doctors at Wake Forest University told us that nobody knows for certain what someone in a coma can hear and understand, but to talk like they could hear and understand us. They said it didn’t hurt anything and actually helped us all emotionally.

Possibly. Hearing is the last sense to go when you are anaesthetised.

I thought I’d heard that people waking from comas sometimes remembered things people had said.

I worked on an ambulance for 7 years as first medic We once had a patient have a cardiac arrest in the rig while we were tranporting him. We performed CPR with lots of cursing and screaming in the rig. (Don’t you die on me! Not supposed to do CPR while moving, break xyphoid, tear cartilage, get red hospital to accept code blue… – lots of yelling…. ).
The guy survived with minimal damage. We had a very emotional meeting at his request about a month later. He remembered the screaming and cursing – that all took place after he arrested.
After that I always spoke to the patient as if they were there.
He was flat lined but the CPR kept him going enough

Having been in a coma for a week (but not actually dying, obviously), I can only say that for me personally, that period of time was simply gone. I know now that my mother and stepfather were there the whole time and talking to me as if I could hear, but I have no recollection of that period of time. Never heard anything, never saw anything.

Yes.

My family is rather silly and most of us have a pretty strong sense of humor. My late grandmother was no exception. Four years ago this month at 92, she was dying. While no one ever told us she is in a coma she was very out of it and the veil between her and the other side was very thin. There were lots of family members with her throughout her last couple of weeks. We were taking things very seriously because we knew the end was near. We all took turns telling her that it was ok to let go, that we would all be fine and we would make sure her husband was taken care of until he joined her. She held on and held on. One night five of us were sitting with her on the couch in her room. We all sat there very seriously keeping vigil over her. After a while one of us made a joke and before long all of us were joking around and laughing. Ten minutes into the silliness my grandmother died. We looked at each other and knew that Grandmother was waiting to let go and when we all finally lightened up she knew we were going to be ok.

There is no doubt in my mind a dying person can hear us.

Yes. My nephew was in a coma from an ATV wreck. When I was visiting him, I would brush his teeth because I’m obsessive about brushing my teeth. When he came out of the coma, that was the only thing he remembered.

Also when my mom was in the hospital dying, in a coma, we all took turns being with her, but there were at least 3 of us there at a time. As @SuperMouse did, we would take turns telling her it was okay to let go. She held on 11 days. On the final day, I was alone with her, the only time I had been. I sat with her and she just passed quietly. I really think she just wanted it to be me and her.

In my CNA class, we were told that somw can and some can’t but regardless we should greet them, announce ourselves, explain what we’re going to do (like change sheets, clothes, brush teeth, etc.) In other words treat them as if they were conscious.

When my mother in law was unconscious and dying in hospital I spoke with others around her bed as if I was really speaking to her as I assumed she could hear everything I said and I felt the last words were important. Two hours later she was dead.

I have to believe they can. When we speak around a comatose patient, it might be more beneficial for the medical staff, friends, and family members to be thoughtful and kind to the person, as whatever is said and done might be the last memory we have of what we did. It mean everything.

As a dear friend of mine was in a coma for 57 days before dying, although she was totally unresponsive, she was calm and relaxed when her daughter talked to her, and was clearly upset and stressed when a man who had mistreated her, spoke. I say they can hear and understand.