While interviewing a newly admitted older female client, the nurse observes that the client ignores questions asked by the nurse, and speaks loudly to her son who brought her to the hospital. Which action should the nurse implement first?

A. Performing a mental status exam is important but may not be the immediate priority if the issue could be related to a more straightforward problem such as hearing loss. B. Orienting the client to her surroundings is helpful but may not address the immediate concern of her ignoring questions, which could be due to hearing issues. C. Standing directly in front of the client and asking about hearing loss addresses a possible issue with communication immediately. It is crucial to rule out hearing impairment before assuming other causes for the client's behavior. D. Using a tuning fork to complete Rinne and Weber tests is a valid assessment for hearing loss but is a more specific test that may be implemented after the nurse initially assesses whether hearing loss is a potential issue.