1. The communication chain

2. What is communication?

3. Some definitions of communication
“Share or exchange information or ideas;
convey (an emotion or feeling) in a non-verbal way” (Concise Oxford English Dictionary : 2008)
“some mutual system of symbolisation”
(Watts 1983: 37)

4. Some definitions of communication
“The sharing of thoughts, ideas, information and feelings so that they are understood.
…. an intricate process which only succeeds if understanding takes place in the mind of the receiver.
….a partnership involving sender and receiver.” (McCall 1984: 20)

5. The communication chain
Sender
Receiver
Thought/
idea
Encode thought
into words
Speech
production
Sound
travels
through air
Feedback
Hearing
Decode
words
Message
understood

6. Verbal communication The words How we say the words modulation pitch
pace
pauses
inflection
tone amount
tone quality

7. Non -verbal communication
Gesture
Facial expression
Posture
Eye contact
Touch
Physical space
Physical characteristics

8. Importance of non-verbal communication
Words %
Tone of voice %
Body language 55%
(Mehrabian 1971)
When there is mismatch
“Am I bovvered?”

9. Factors that affect communication
What physical and emotional factors might affect different parts of the communication chain?
Factors that could affect the speaker
Factors that could affect the listener

10. Physical factors affecting communication
Speech and language disorders
Aphasia/dysphasia
Dysarthria
Stammering
Voice problems
Physiological
Multiple sclerosis
Cerebral Palsy
Dementia
Motor neurone disease
Stroke
Brain injury
Asperger’s Syndrome
Hearing problems
Visual problems
Ageing
Fatigue
Pain/discomfort

11. Emotional factors affecting communication
Depression
Lack of confidence
Embarrassment
Boredom
Mood
Willingness to communicate
Attitude
Cultural background
Education
Experience

12. “A blow in the realm of the mind”
( Sutcliffe, T (1990), The Challenge of Deafness, Desktop Publishing Services, Taunton)

13. “A blow in the realm of the mind”
Conversation = transfer of thought from one person to another
Higher form of thinking is still normal
No sound + inaccurate lipreading → holds up thinking process
Delay in processing the message
Deafened person cannot respond/participate in the natural flow of conversation

14. Support strategies for communication
Don’t pretend you understand
Reduce background noise
Ask what helps
Repeat key word or ideas
Rephrase
Use gesture/signs
Write/draw
Change the word
Keep sentences short and simple
Give time to reply –don’t rush
Don’t finish their sentences
Keep eye contact
Say one thing at a time
Relax -be natural
Use total communication
Recap – check you both understand

15. References
McCall, R. (1984) Speechreading and Listening Tactics. London: Robert Hale
Mehrabian, A. (1971) Silent Messages. California: Wadsworth
Soanes C., Stevenson A., (Eds)(2008) Concise Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Watts, J.W. (1983) Rehabilitation and Acquired Deafness. Beckenham : Croom Helm

16. Further reading
Crystal, D. (2006) How Language Works. London : Penguin
Pinker, S. (1994) The Language Instinct. London; Penguin
Websites