Factors Affecting Communication

Factors Affecting Communication

1. Appropriate use of speed, clarity and loudness

2. Legibility and accuracy

3. Emotional

   • Personality Clashes
   • Stress or anxiety
   • Fear
   • Sadness
   • Low mood
   • Happiness
   • Excitement
   • Empathy

4. Cultural Influences

   • Eye Contact
   • Non-verbal Communication
   • Humour
   • Gender Roles
   • Language Differences

5. Use of eye contact, facial expressions and body language

6. Time constraints and pressures

   • Less time during interactions - poor listening
   • Rushed interactions
   • Poor record keeping - misinformation, errors, omissions
   • Low morale
   • E.g. Medications given on time, observations on patients (medical and visual), patients not being helped to the toilet as they should be all of these things can be missed, patients falling, pressure ulcers

7. Physical or intellectual disabilities

   • Physical Disabilities
     • Visual, hearing and speech impairments as well as ones that affects the motor abilities of an individual
   • Intellectual Disabilities
     • Such as IQ differences, limited speech ability or impediment, can make communication difficult due to lack of understanding

8. Use of technical terminology or colloquialisms

9. Lack of resources

10. Stereotyping and Labelling

11. Environmental

    • Personal Appearance
    • Proximity
    • Seating Arrangements
    • Background Noise
    • Lighting
    • Comfort/Warmth