Barriers_to_Effective_Communication

Given that the spoken and written word can be interpreted to mean very different things, extra effort must be made to ensure that we consider barriers that many children, young people and adults face with communication. Some barriers to communication can include: External factors are Physical Barriers to communication Economic Factors- It has been shown that children who live in deprived areas have a harder time socialising than their more affluent peers. There may be several factors to account for the differences, but one of the most important is that the community as a whole likely has limited access to social opportunities. In towns with a comfortable economic demographic, there are typically many organisations that offer activities for children, but in communities where money is especially tight, residents do not have the necessary funds for extra-curricular activities that provide kids with opportunities for social development. Cultural expectations – children come from a wide range of cultures. It is therefore important to understand that what might be acceptable in one culture may be offensive in others. Eye contact in particular is important: some children will avert their eyes from authority figures as in some cultures direct eye contact is considered insolent.– children come from a wide range of cultures. It is therefore important to understand that what might be acceptable in one culture may be offensive in others. INTERNAL FACTORS Disability – you do not need to have in-depth knowledge of each specific disability but it is important to know the person’s ability to communicate in order to do this effectively. Language used – The inability to converse in a language that is known by both the sender and receiver is the greatest barrier to effective communication. When a person uses inappropriate words while conversing or writing, it could lead to misunderstanding between the sender and a receiver. If the sender doesn't clearly speak the same language as the receiver then they may be using words that do not make sense. Emotions Emotions could be a barrier to communication, if children, young people and adults are engrossed in their emotions for some reason, they tend to have trouble listening to others or understanding the message conveyed to them. According to the College of Marin, if someone is angry, resentful, happy or excited, that person may be too preoccupied with emotions to receive the intended message. Emotions mainly involve fear, mistrust and suspicion. Excessive fear of what others might think of us and what we say can interfere with what we want to communicate and our ability to form meaningful relationships Behavioural issues – poor communication can be linked to a child’s challenging behaviour. A perceived understanding of what triggers particular behaviours, and how a child reacts when they are unable to understand or make themselves understood, can help staff support a particular child. Lack of confidence – some children may not feel confident in communicating with staff and staff may not feel confident in communicating with some children. Training may help to address this, but willingness and an ethos of ‘having a go’ is a good start. Anxiety, Depression and Stress- If you are feeling agitated, anxious or depressed; you may misunderstand what others are saying. When you feel distracted by anxious or depressed emotional states, you may wrongly experience others as attacking you when they are trying to provide constructive criticism or advice. You may speak faster, appear introverted or be distracted by whatever it is that is making you feel unsettled. You might interrupt frequently or stop listening to the other person. You may think the other person does not care about how you feel, regardless of whether or not this is the case. Stress levels can play an important role in your ability to communicate effectively. According to psychologists Jeanne Segal and Jaelline Jaffe in their book "The Language of Emotional Intelligence," if you are experiencing a high level of stress, you may be unable to adequately communicate your own needs or to really hear what another person is saying. You may be cranky, overwhelmed, irritable or distracted. The stress may leave you feeling unable to deal with your own needs, and therefore unable to deal with the needs or emotions of others. Insecurity- is one of the most common reasons for a communication breakdown in relationships. Those who feel insecure, have a tendency to emotionally withdraw or become depressed or irritable for no apparent reason. You may hear everything another person says as a criticism or attack, putting you on the defence and making you unable to truly hear what they are saying.