Support for communication needs There are a range of services that may assist people to communicate or help to remove the barriers to effective communication- these can be support services, different languages or technology.

health authorities in order to communicate with people who use different spoken or signed language- but it could be friends or family members have sufficient language ability to be able to explain messages in different circumstances. Translators and interpreters involves conveying what a person means from on language to another, so when an interpreter works with people, they will become part of the communication cycle. The disadvantages to this could be; if the interpreter- whoever it may be, professional or relative, - doesn’t understand the technical details in the communication because knowledge of a language is not always enough to ensure clear and effective communication. Trust has got to be placed in the hands of the interpreter, people form certain communities may find it hard to trust a member from a different community the same goes from gender. So to make sure that the patient is communicating properly they have to be comfortable with their interpreter. Advantages to this from of support service would be that it means that messages get decoded more easily and that communication through different people are a lot clearer. Speech therapist are support services, they provide assessment and therapy for people with speech, language or other communication problems, a range of communication approaches and therapy will be used in order to improve people’s communication abilities. The advantages to this are that they do more than just modify speech they help with swallowing and problems and social understanding. The disadvantages are that they are not always effective and also that the patient has to rely on them to help them they can’t just help themselves.Counsellors and psychologists use advanced communication skills combined with knowledge of psychological theory in order to help people. All counsellors spend time listening to, and building an understanding of, their client’s problems. The advantages psychologists- clinical psychologist work in the field of mental health and sometimes provide assessment and therapy to people who have emotional or psychological problems for example depression and anxiety. Many psychologist work in other areas of human behaviours for instance educational psychologist work in the field of learning and human development, while occupational psychologist focus on human behaviour with a work setting. The advantages to psychologists is that they reduce emotional problems that restrict communication. The disadvantages are that they cost a lot of money.  Mentors, they are usually people who are highly experienced in a particular job or activity; they advise those who are new to the activity or less experienced. If a person if referred to as a mentor, it might be assumed that they will provide guidance based on their experience and knowledge of an issue. A disadvantage to mentors is the lack of them; there are a small number of mentors around and with there being such a small amount that means there is a lack of time to be with your mentor. Also another disadvantage to mentoring is personality incompatibility, or power- mongering mentors, and situations where mentors could feel resentful towards the mentee and possibly judgemental. Advantages to mentoring are quicker learning curves for the mentee, increased loyalty, and increased communication and team sprit.Befrienders seek to create a supportive relationship with others. This kind of support service will work as if he or she is a friend to a patient. A befriender will have good communication skills that enable them to listen to, and build an understanding  of, a service user’s views and feelings, but they will no be assumed to have any particular psychological knowledge. Advantages to befrienders are the good communication skills and understanding of the patient, they could make a patient feel calm and comfortable in a uneasy situation with them acting as a friend to that someone, and in pressing situation if that person has no one else a befriender could be a really help to them. Disadvantages could be that a patient could maybe start to feel even more uncomfortable and start to become worried and confused on why is it that they are acting as friend if they don’t no them well enough themselves. Patients could not trust the person enough to let them befriend them.                Preferred language can be referring to British sign language- the British sign language is using hands to communicate with other people. Sign language is used by Deaf people so that they can communicate to others through signing. The positives to this are that people with communication difficulties are able to communicate to others and are able to get across how they feel and what they need easily to others. There are some disadvantages to sign language though with it being very slow and relatively few people understand it. Makaton which is a system for developing language that uses speech, signs and symbols to help people with learning difficulties to communicate and to develop their language skills. People who communicate using Makaton may speak a word and perform a sign using hands and body language. The signs used in Makaton are concepts/ideas selected in accordance to what is considered to be most appropriate for the needs of person with communication and language difficulties. The advantages to Makaton are that it’s a visual approach. Visual-memory skills are generally an area of strength for children with autism. Also training and resources are relatively inexpensive.  Learning to use Makaton does not only benefit children with autism, the principles can be applied to aid communication in people with a range of disabilities, and the complexity and amount of signs taught can be manipulated depending on the ability of the child. The disadvantages are there is little research specific to the success of using Makaton with children with autism, and the child needs to have some social, imitative, and communicative intent before communication can develop.Another preferred language is Braille. Braille provides a system of written communication based on the sense of touch for people who have limited vision. Braille has many advantages for those who can read it. It is portable, writeable as well as readable promotes literacy by exposing readers to the written rather than spoken word. The disadvantages to Braille would be the expense, for things like a Braille keyboard and printer it would cost a lot more money because its Braille.  There is a lot of technology available to help assist people to communicate easily; things like hearing aids which have many advantages, such as greater affordability, greater flexibility & accessibility for repairs, easier maintenance for those with severe hearing loss, may be greater ease in discriminating of low frequency sounds. Disadvantages are limited hearing assistance in high frequency range, and loud noises are bothersome for those using linear amplification. There is also IT software to enhance the display which makes it easier for people to read things on a computer so that way it gives the people with limited eye sight the ability  to communicate using another form of communication. There are a lot of other forms of technology to help people with speaking difficulties, also hearing and visual disabilities.