Role of Communication

Role of Communication

1. Introduction

   • In this assignment I will explain the role of effective communication and interpersonal interaction in a health and social context.
   • Communication
     • Communication is a two-way process where two people understand they are sharing information with one another, but also creating and giving ideas.
   • Interpersonal interaction
     • Interpersonal interaction is when you exchange information, feelings and meaning by using verbal and non-verbal communication. This is also person-person communication
   • Interpersonal Skills
     • Interpersonal skills include:   •Listening Skills •Communication Skills •Stress Management •Verbal Communication •Decision Making •Non-Verbal Communication •Assertiveness •Problem Solving  

2. Different Forms

   • In communication there are many different types and ways of communcating
   • Written
     • Written communication is when writing down words on something like paper. This can be used in health and social care when a professional wants to look over a users care plan. The care plan will have all the users previous assessments and goals. It also allows professionals to know their role when caring for a user. It can give detailed instructions on appointments preparation for users
   • Oral
     • Oral communication is using speech to talk to another user. It helps us give information directly to users. Service users can also give professionals directly. This can be helpful in health and social care as we can emphasise points with out voice and use tones to show we care for someone. For example a scared user might feel more at ease when a professional speaks to them in a soft tone.
   • Text
     • Text is when using your phone to communicate to another person by using words on a phone. It is instant, and hassle free. Text can be used as a reminder to tell patients they have an appointment next day. This is easy because it is instant and simple.
   • Music & Drama
     • Music and drama allows users to express themselves. It also doesn't require the user to use speech or language. Simple things like hand movement can mean that the user is responding to the music. In health and social care this can be used to help users who have learning disabilities, or impaired and can't use speech, to help them express their emotions and feelings to a professional.
   • Arts
     • Arts is another way of expressing yourself without using words or language.  This can help users with brain damage to express themselves
   • Objects of reference
     • Objects of reference means having an object that the user can refer back to. This can help in health and social care by allowing dementia patients to open their mind when seeing old pictures, this creates a conversation which can help keep their emotional side of the brain intact.

3. Para-verbal

   • Para-verbal communication is when communicating with someone else while controlling your vocalisation, tone, pitch, volume and emphasis
   • Inflection
     • Inflection is when your voice goes up or down. It helps us to express our emotions and feelings. In health and social care you should lower or raise your pitch. Raising your voice shows you lack confidence while lowering your voice makes you sound aggressive. When speaking to a user you should keep your pitch neutral which shows confidence.
   • Tone
     • Tone is one of the best ways of expressing how you feel even if you don't mean to. Tone is natural to use and can cause professionals to accidentally slip when showing how they actually feel. This can help professionals understand how a user is really feeling even if they say they are 'fine'. Their voice will express how they really feel.
   • Emphasis
     • Emphasising means to raise your voice on one or multiple words in a sentence to signify it's more important.  This can help us in health and social care by showing that taking medication is important by emphasising to a user they NEED take their medication
   • Pitch
     • Pitch is when you raise your voice to a high pitch or lower it to a low pitch. This can help in health and social care by recognise if a user is asking a question or making a point.
   • Vocalisation
     • Vocalisation allows us to show our emotions by showing if some ones aggressive or calm. This can help us in health and social care by showing us if a user is being aggressive to staff, or beginning to get aggressive.

4. Oral communication

   • Oral communication is when you use speech and language to communicate with someone else.
   • Clear Oral Communication
     • Clear oral communication is when you speak clearly, and have clarity in your voice. It is also not using jargon, slang or other terms another person may not know. This can help in health and social care by allowing a user to understand correctly and not misunderstand. For example clearly explaining to a user how to take medication can stop the user from overdosing and becoming more ill.
   • Active listening
     • Active listening is not just about hearing, it is about listening carefully to the words, and reading their non-verbal and para-verbal communication, as it may say something different to what the service user is saying. e.g. someone may be telling you their feelings verbally, however their body language or tone of voice may be the opposite. Signs that someone is active listening is that they stay silent giving the service user time to talk. and using para verbal communication. such as 'aha' and nodding, and keeping eye contact. Mirroring techniques and repeating back to the service user what they have understood shows  you have listened and understood.In health and social care active listening is essential as it shows the service user you are interested in the information they are telling you.

5. Prefernces

   • Users may have different preferences of communication. For example a hearing impaired person may want to use sign language, and a visually impaired person may want to use braille. If someone has a communication passport it can tell you what the users preference is.

6. Non-verbal

   • Non-verbal communication is communicating without the use of language, text, or speech
   • Posture
     • Posture is the way your body is positioned. Two types of posture is open and closed posture, you can also mirror somebody else's posture. Open posture is welcoming, and more friendly while closed is being defensive. This can be used in health and social care when a user needs psychological help. The psychologists could either use an open posture, or mirror the users posture in hope of them opening up.
   • Facial Expression
     • Facial expression is the emotion you display on your face. It's a micro communication that helps us to know what people are thinking and feeling. This can help professionals in health and social care by reading a users facial expression and telling if they are upset. It can help with users that may be mentally impaired who cannot speak out.
   • Touch
     • Touch is a way of showing a lot of care for a user as it is quite a personal interaction. It should only be used once you know the patient and the user feels comfortable with the professional. This can be used in health and social care to show that you care for the user and can help build a bond with the professional and user.
   • SIlence
     • Silence is good for helping professionals and users think. This can be used in health and social care when a user and professional are having a 1 to 1 and the user or professional needs to think of a solution for the issue.