For this assessment criterion, you will critically evaluate your use and application of different types of communication in order to better serve those who have particular needs. This means looking at both the positive aspects as well as negative ones that may arise with regard to various approaches within settings; then using evidence from these considerations before making a final judgment on how effective each method truly is for delivering customer service or meeting other professional goals. Some of the communication methods that you may explore are provided below.
Its important to adopt an empathetic, compassionate and non-judgmental listening style when communicating with individuals that are depressed. When possible, it helps to make the person you are communicating with feel as comfortable as possible. This can be done by having a relaxed environment, clothing, or physical contact if appropriate. Speaking in a calm voice and making sure that they are feeling heard is also helpful, as well as avoiding getting drawn into an argument. When providing care to someone who has depression its important to be aware of the risks of suicide. Therefore, it is crucial that anyone who appears to have expressed suicidal thoughts/ideas is assessed by a mental health professional as soon as possible.
Depression affects more than just an individuals emotions. It also has physical symptoms. These can include insomnia, chronic pain, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
When caring for someone who has depression its also important to be aware that an individuals self-esteem is often very low, so they may not look after themselves properly. This means looking out for signs of neglect such as poor hygiene, malnutrition, or dehydration; and looking out for signs of self-harm like cuts, burns, or scars.
Dysarthria is a speech disorder that involves problems with the muscles of the mouth, throat, vocal cords, lungs, or respiratory system. The severity of dysarthria varies from mild to severe. It can be present at birth but can also develop later on in life as a result of damage to the central nervous system (which controls muscle movement).
Dysarthria can affect a persons speech, making it difficult for them to speak clearly. Someone with dysarthria might slur their words and have difficulty mixing up the syllables of a word. They may also have nasal speech, which is when they produce sounds through the nose rather than the mouth. In some cases, breathing difficulties may accompany dysarthria.
Reducing background noise and other distractions and maintaining eye contact can help someone with dysarthria to be better understood. Its also helpful to speak clearly and slowly, especially if the person has receptive or expressive language difficulties as well. Pictorial aids, computer-aided transcription, and getting help from a speech or language therapist can also be very helpful if dysarthria is having an impact on communication provision.
Communication is a two-way street. If you dont know how to speak the language of your counterpart, it can make for some very difficult conversations. Speaking slowly without shouting and using simple language (or a minimal number of words) is one way to improve the likelihood of being understood, but this doesnt always mean that a person will be able to communicate effectively. Using visual aids, such as a whiteboard or computer screen with appropriate fonts and colors, can also help. In some cases, using a third language may be easier for both parties as this enables them to communicate without the struggle of having to speak each others languages.