What factors might give rise to communication barriers between service users and service providers?

by sonia707 (student)

Communication Barriers

Slang

When a service user uses language that not everyone uses for example if they are from a different area when they use slang words it may be difficult for other service provider to understand what they are trying to say.

You can overcome this by not using any slang words because some people may find it offending for example you can write what you are trying to say so that they may understand or use picture for instance.

Distress

If a service user is crying hysterically there may have their head down so it will be difficult to communicate with them to overcome this you need to try and calm them down and make eye contact with them. And talk to them to try and make them more relax.

Dialect

Most people use different words or feelings depending where they come from for example some people in other part of England say “aye” instead of yes or some say “innit” instead of isn’t it so it may be difficult for someone from a different area to understand as it will be different from how they speak.

This can be overcome by using individuals preferred language for example at the health centre they might be someone who is from the same country so they might try and explain what they are trying to say or what they mean.

Emotional Difficulties

People have different emotional difficulties at times and may be very upset for example if you hear some bad news and you are at a hospital then the doctor tries to explain something to you and you do not hear what they are saying to you this may lead to misunderstandings. ...

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Emotional Difficulties

This can be overcome for example if the doctor asks what the matter is and try to talk calmly and politely the service user might be willing to tell the doctor about what troubling them and will feel that the doctor is interested in their situation.

Foreign Languages

Foreign languages it is one of the barriers for example if you are working at a service centre and you have to work with a service user who speak a different language it may be hard to understand that they are saying.

To overcome this you can use hand gestures to communicate with the service user using eye contact can also be helpful to show them you are paying attention. You can also use facial expression to describe what you are trying to say.

Environment

If you are having an appointment with a service user and you have to tell them about their record from the computer screen and the light is bright they may be distracted and for example the doctor could give the wrong records because he can’t see the screen clearer

You can overcome it by having the blind close so the doctor can see properly or you can move the computer away from the window.

Disability Health

Is a barrier because if you are working at a service centre with someone who a disability for example someone who blind or deaf it may be hard to communicate but you can still overcome this for example if a person is deaf you can use sign language etc.

Jargon

Is one of the communication barriers for instance you are at the hospital and the service provider uses technical language to explain something you may find it hard to understand.

You can overcome this by understanding the language needs and preferences for example the service provider might have to use short sentences and avoid using jargon so that it may be normal and easy to understand.

Cultural Differences

At the service centre you can be working with someone from a different country or have a different religious so you have to be careful to what you say in casa you might offended them especially using hand gestures because in some country different gestures can be consider rude to them and also in some country making eye contact is rude especially to someone who is older than you.

To overcome this you can study about their culture.