Support Individuals with Communication Needs

A person’s behaviour can be defined as “challenging” if it puts them or those around them, (such as their carer), at risk or leads to poorer quality of life. It can also impact on their ability to join in everyday activities. Challenging behaviour can include aggression, self-harm, destructiveness and disruptiveness, pushing, spitting and dragging. An individual could express their emotions in such a way where there is a communication barrier such as non-verbal and different languages. It could be they are in pain and portraying challenging behaviour is the only way they can communicate and show their emotions. Use of different words and unclear long sentence could lead to an individual showing challenging behaviour because of the communication difficult they will be facing. One could show challenging behaviour where there is use of different language.

5,2:5,3Understanding others see things differently to you. Trying to predict the feelings and attitude of the receiver and thinking of the situation, What about their state of mind when you are communicating? What prejudices might they have? Knowing these things before communicating, will reduce the risk of misinterpretation and could prevent any challenging behaviours. Face-to-face communication will allow for questions and, most importantly, allow you to see the body language, which will convey much more meaning than over the phone or through email. Use language that fits the audience. Using a common language that most people understand will help the communication skill of many people however it may not be possible at all times. In an event where it’s not possible to using translation will be beneficial. Use the right communication channel. Don’t send an email if it’s quicker to pick up the phone or go and talk to the person. Use email for its proper purpose. Use of communication aids will help individual to communicate maximise personal choice and being able to make the right choices as well as taking control...