One method of overcoming a barrier that’s to do with language is by getting an interpreter or translator. This is a strength as an interpreter or translator will be effective and it will allow someone to be understood properly. An interpreter will be very beneficial when talking to someone in a different language as it will translate what they have said word-for-word.
When talking to someone who has an accent and you can’t understand them well you could politely ask them to talk more slowly for you. I think the strength of this is that it’s something which can be done easily and it will help you to understand them more clearly.
Another method of overcoming these barriers is by using reflective listening. This ensures that you have understood them correctly and they can correct you if you haven’t. I think the strength of this is that it makes sure that the person you’re talking to is understood properly and there are no misunderstandings at all.
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Weaknesses Although using an interpreter or translator will be effective, if there aren’t any available then the service user will not be able to communicate at all. This is a weakness because someone who needs an interpreter will probably rely on them most of the time to communicate so if there isn’t one available then there’s no other way for them to communicate.
Although asking someone to talk more slowly for you can be effective, some people may find it offensive and consequently this could result in them not wanting to talk to you at all. This could seem offensive as the person you’re talking to will think that they are speaking very clearly and it’s highly likely that they are but someone from a different part of the country or a different country altogether will not be able to understand them.
Hearing aids can be very effective when used by someone with a hearing impairment. They allow someone who is deaf of partially deaf to be able to hear a lot better. This is a strength because it’s important that a deaf or partially deaf person is able to hear so they can fully take part in the conversation and respond to the person that they are interacting with.
Makaton and sign language can be effective when communicating with someone who is deaf as it allows them to understand what is being said in a way that is suitable for them. For someone who is deaf, sign language is probably the only way they can communicate with people and it’s probably the most effective way, too. Makaton is also very simple to learn and simple to understand.
Weaknesses While hearing aids are effective, they can be expensive and also the availability of them can be an issue as well. There are probably a lot of people who can’t afford hearing aids but yet they really need them. If there are a large amount of people requesting hearing aids then it’s likely that not everyone will be able to get one.
There might not always be staff trained in using Makaton or sign language when you need them. This will affect communication as people who interact using Makaton or sign language won’t have any other way of communicating.
