Barriers to Effective Communication

Barriers to effective communication are situations or behaviors that make communication more difficult. These can interfere with communication with the client or other care team members.

There are different types of barriers to communication and we will go into more depth with each of them below: Environmental Barriers, and Conversational Bad Habits.

Environmental Barriers

Environmental barriers are distractions, interruptions, and physical issues that interfere with communication. Some examples include:

Noise from a loud television, radio, etc.
Other people walking in and out of the room
Phones ringing or buzzing
Uncomfortable temperature or poor ventilation

Reducing Environmental Barriers

Choose a time that works best for your client, e.g. when they are fully awake, alert, and comfortable.
Turn down the television or radio volume (politely ask for permission to do this beforehand).
Silence your cell phone while having a conversation with a client.
Make sure the environment is comfortable (temperature, lighting, noise, etc.).
Go to a different place where there are fewer distractions, interruptions, or more privacy.

Communicating Through Masks

Communicating while wearing masks may be challenging for both clients and Home Care Aides. Getting the client’s attention first, speaking slowly and clearly, and using body language can help.

Conversational Bad Habits

Conversational bad habits are behaviors that immediately stop or interfere with good communication. Three common conversational bad habits are imposing your point of view, advising, and voiding. You should be aware of these habits while working with a client or other care team members.

Imposing Your Point of View

When you impose your point of view on the speaker, the other person often ends up feeling defensive and misunderstood, as if you have overridden their views. You can impose your point of view in many ways.

Judging: “This would not have happened if you were not so…”
Name-calling: “You are being a baby.”
Ordering: “Go do this right now.”
Threatening: “If you do not do this, I will not help you.”
Using offensive language

Advising

Advising is when you automatically step in to solve the client’s “problem.” Even though you want to help, you can actually make things worse. The client may not think there is a problem, or your understanding of it might be incomplete. The client can end up feeling resentful or put down. Avoid saying things like, :If I were you, I would…” or “Why don’t you fix the problem like this?”

Avoiding

Avoiding is when you change the subject because you are uncomfortable, bored, or just do not want to talk about something. Changing the subject or drawing attention to yourself are examples of avoiding a conversation. Avoid saying things like “Let me tell you about something similar that happened to me…” or “Well enough about that, did you see that show on TV last night?”

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