Communication Strategies & Conversational Styles Chapter 7 Perry C. Hanavan, Au.D.

Belonging, Independence, Mastery, Generosity “For successful conversation between any two people, there must be mutual interest, cooperation, and sensitivity. For successful conversation between a normal-hearing person and a hearing impaired partner, the same basic requirements exist. Greater time, effort, and awareness may be required, however, to reach the same level of understanding.” NP Erber, 1993, p 109

Communication Strategy A course of action taken to enhance communication facilitate repair

Communication Training Instruction provided to a person with a hearing loss to maximize his or her communication potential

Conversation Sharing ideas Relating experiences Telling stories Expressing needs Instructing Influencing Create meaning Build understanding Establishing intimacy

Conversational Rules Implicit rules guide the conduct of participants in a conversation Typically cultural established conventions

Rules of Conversation Agree to share one another’s interests Ensure all share in talking Participate in topic Take turns talking in organized fashion Try to be relevant to topic discussion Not too verbose…succinct messages Dr. Sam Trychin

Hearing Loss Characteristics Disrupted turn taking Modified speaking and listening style Modified turn taking style Inappropriate topic shifts Less rich content Superficial content Frequent clarification Violation of implicit social rules…speech too loud Disrupted grounding

Question Select the 2 classes of strategies in communication: Belonging Facilitative Mastery Repair

Classes of Strategies Facilitative instructing, structuring Repair specific tactics

Reception of Messages Talker Message Environment Listener

Facilitative Strategies Strategies that influence the talker instructional strategies the listener asks the talker (communication partner) to change the delivery of the message (assertive) slow down it is difficult to lipread when you cover your mouth could you face me

Facilitative Strategies Strategies that influence the message Message-tailoring strategies phrasing remarks to constrain a response of a speaker Did you go fishing or boating? Are you afraid of snakes? Metacognition – considering in one’s mind how to say something Acknowledgment gesture – listener providing feedback to communication partner via head nod or shake

Facilitative Strategies Strategies that influence the environment Constructive strategies tactic designed to optimize the listening environment for communication Let’s go into the living room to talk Let’s sit where it is more quiet Let’s step over here where there is more light Moving closer to speaker Avoiding rooms with reverberation Avoiding places with visual distractions

Facilitative Strategy Strategies that influence reception (listener) Adaptive strategies methods of counteracting maladaptive behaviors that stem from hearing loss relax taking a deep breath

Facilitative Strategy Strategies that influence reception (listener) Attending strategies methods of counteracting maladaptive behaviors that stem from hearing loss watch the speaker’s lips focus on the speaker

Facilitative Strategy Strategies that influence reception (listener) Anticipatory strategies methods of preparing for a communication interaction observant of situation clues makes predictions about message predicts speakers style

Facilitative Strategies Talker Instructional Strategy Message Tailoring Acknowledge-ment Strategy Environment Constructive Strategy Listener Adaptive Attending Anticipatory Strategy

Instructional Strategies Worksheet (Talker) ______________________________

Tailoring (Message) Strategy ________________________________

Constructive Strategies (Environment) _______________________________

Adaptive, Attending, Anticipatory Strategies (Listener) __________________________________

Repair Strategies Communication breakdown when one communication partner speaks a message and the communication partner does not recognize the message

Detecting Communication Breakdown Choose Course of Action Use Repair Strategy Disregard Utterance Bluff

Repair Strategies Receptive repair strategy Expressive repair strategy tactic used by the listener (with hearing loss) when the message presented by a communication partner is not understood Expressive repair strategy strategy used to rectify a communication breakdown that occurs because the person with a hearing loss (speaker) produces an unintelligible utterance

Specific Receptive Repair repeat all or part of message indicate the topic of conversation rephrase message elaborate message simplify the message confirm the message write fingerspell

Question Not an example of a non-specific strategy: Huh What Pardon I got the first part of the sentence

Nonspecific Expressive Repair What Huh Pardon

Six Basic Principles of Conversational Repair ONE: Use of requests for clarification improves understanding between conversational partners (e.g., Tye-Murray, Purdy, Woodworth & Tyler, 1990). TWO: Specific training in the use of repair strategies is effective (Tye-Murray, 1991). THREE: Some requests for clarification are considered specific, or contingent (e.g., requests for confirmation) whereas others (e.g., neutral queries) are considered non-specific, or non-contingent (see, Table 2). FOUR: Contingent requests for clarification are more likely to sustain interaction over multiple turns than non-contingent requests (Kenworthy, 1984). FIVE: Strategies that elicit rephrasing by the speaker are more likely to repair the communication breakdown (Gagne & Wyllie, 1989). SIX: Requests for specific clarification are viewed more favorably by the speaker than non-specific requests (Gagne, Stelmacovich, & Yovetich, 1991; Caissie & Gibson, 1997). In other words, both interactants communicate more effectively when more specific, or contingent, repair strategies are employed. (Kenworthy)

Patronizing Communication Style with Older Persons Talking only about restricted topics Using directive speech Using childlike expressions Speaking very slowly Exaggerating nonverbal signals Paraphrasing frequently Decreasing grammatical complexity Talking about fewer topics

Bilingual Children and Repair When using sign, greater diversity in repair strategies were used. Most, T. (2003). The use of repair strategies: bilingual deaf children using sign language and spoken language. American Annals of the Deaf. 148:4, 308-314.

Adjacency pairs: linked speaking turns You Say, I Say Adjacency pairs: linked speaking turns Hearing Loss Partner Comm. Partner message repetition response provide information response feedback response nonspecific repair strategy- request for information repair strategy- confirmation repair strategy-

Topic Shading When a new emphasis is derived from an ongoing topic of conversation such that the topic remains the same but the relevant details shift Jan: (has HL) I’m going to Phoenix today. Rob: Are you flying or driving? Jan: Flying Rob: I need to get my tickets for Orlando. Jan: What?

Research 67% at a family gathering, a party or social meeting likely to pretend (bluffing) to be understanding while keeping quiet Most individuals ask communication partner to repeat a message verbatim following a communication breakdown rather than other repair strategy Message restructuring rather than repeating improves understanding Non-specific repair strategies (huh, what?) beneficial in some contexts

Likely to Use Repair Strategies Those using repair strategies less likely to feel frustrated with speechreading skills Avoid social interactions Those less likely to use repair strategies tend to Have attained lower levels of educations Have experienced a sudden hearing loss Received minimal benefit from their listening devices

Mentioning a Hearing Loss Can be beneficial May result in conversation center on hearing loss May be factor why persons with hearing loss reluctant to reveal hearing loss

Conversational Styles Passive conversational style withdraws, bluffs, avoids Aggressive conversational style hostile, belligerent, bad attitude blames others denies, dominates, interrupts Assertive conversational style takes responsibility for managing communication respects the rights of their communication partner openly and honestly expresses needs and emotions

Communication Style Assertive Passive Aggressive Least stressful Faces problems Gains respect of others Claims rights; is respectful of others' rights Makes own choices Possesses self-confidence Stress-producing Avoids problems Allows self to be manipulated by others Gives up rights Lets others choose Lacks self-confidence Blames or attacks others instead of solving problems Takes advantage of others, is often feared and avoided. Disregards others' rights Chooses activities for others Often hostile, demanding, and egotistical

Communication Style

Communication Behaviors Interactive assertive communication style Non-Interactive passive communication style Dominating aggressive communication style Dr. Sam Trychin

Assertiveness Training Key Elements: Ways to indicate a hearing loss Means to request a change in the communication environment Ways to suggest how the communication partner can facilitate the patient’s understanding of spoken messages Means to provide positive feedback to communication partners to reinforce desirable behaviors

Assertiveness Training STEP ONE: Realize where changes are needed and believe in your rights STEP TWO: Figure out appropriate ways of asserting yourself in each specific situation that concerns you Example: Situation: You have just been introduced to someone, but it is very noisy and it is difficult to understand their speech. Response: As soon as appropriate, ask, “It is very noisy and I am having difficulty hearing you, can we move where it is quiet? Poor responses: Let it go and try to avoid situations and say huh and what. An aggressive response would be to blame him/her, "You don't speak up very well, you seem to mumble?"

Assertiveness Training Increase the cooperation between person with hearing loss and communication partner Ways to indicate a hearing loss “I have a hearing loss and may not understand.” Ways to request a change in the communication partner “The lights are dim. Could we move to another room.” Ways to suggest how the communication partner can facilitate understanding of spoken message “It helps me understand if I can see your face.” Ways to provide positive feedback to communication partners to reinforce desirable behaviors “I appreciate your talking to me face to face.”

Examples Dr. Sam Trychin HearWell Dr. Mark Ross (Assertiveness)

Assignment During the next two days: 1. analyze your communication behavior 2. analyze 2 people you communicate with daily and determine their style 3. select the communication style you prefer others use 4. Read: A Conversational Approach to Aural Rehabilitation