One to One:
One to one conversations are between two people, which do not necessarily mean that they are face to face. One to one conversations can happen through instant messaging, email and by letter. Group Communication:
Group communication is a gathering of a small group of people, to talk about an issue or a problem from alcohol anonymous meetings to phobias which people want to overcome. Group leaders can find small groups more manageable as it enables them to interact with everyone. Group communication can happen through the internet for example, blogs and forums.
Formal Communication:
Formal communication is a type of spoken language which requires appropriate verbal and non-verbal skills. This is used consistently throughout health and social care services, for example explaining the side effects of illness to a patient. Other types of formal communication are; a formal letter or email.
Informal Communication:
Informal communication is a type of spoken language that is mainly used when talking to people you know well, such as friends or family. This can reflect the type of relationship you have with people such as communication between colleagues in the right context. In health and social care services this could be used when, for example you are greeting or introducing yourself to someone.
Text:
Text communication allows deaf or people with hard hearing to receive messages using their eyes. This works by having for example a mobile phone, which allows both parties to communicate using a keyboard. However this only works with more than one party.
Oral:
Oral communication is words spoken to one or more people. In a health and social care services oral communication could be a midwife talking to a mother to be.
Visual communication:
Visual communication is a type that delivers ideas and information to a person without it been spoken to them, for example a leaflet or poster giving advice on quitting smoking. Another form of visual communication is body language as it can display how a person is feeling by certain facial expressions.
Touch:
Communication through touch is mainly used on a reading aid called Braille, which is consistently used by people who are visually impaired.