How are you able to deal with clients that are hard to understand?

Karen is right! I worked with a client who had a major speech/hearing disability, but, wow, could she type! We sat there in my office, on my computer, going back and forth. When we were through, I printed it out so she would have notes to refer back to. A lot of times, people who have difficulties have already found their own solutions, so, you might start by asking if they have a preferred way of communicating.

Set a clear working space when it comes time to communicate with the client, for example, avoid any distractions. Do not be afraid to ask the client to repeat themselves if you do not understand. It would also help to have another set of ears during discussions.

Patience is a key in this situation. Let your clients know that you want to understand what they are saying but having a hard time of it. You might ask if they could text or email information to be sure you get it right.