Effective Communication with the Disabled

Running head: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION 1
Effective Communication with the Disabled
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EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION 2
Introduction
Communication is the transmission of information by speaking, writing or by use of
any other medium used in communication. A medium of communication is used to transfer
information through sending and receiving using telephones or computers. In communication,
there must be a sender, the medium of communication and the receiver. It can be between
two people or more. Communication can be categorized into three where it can be verbal,
written or nonverbal. In verbal communication the person has to listen and understand, in
writing the person has to read and understand while in non-verbal communication the person
has to observe a person and infer the meaning. This paper provides an assessment of the use
of effective communication when working with the disabled.
There is effective communication when two or more people communicate and the
message is delivered successfully, received and well understood. Effective communication
helps to foster a good working relationship between the two or more parties. It helps to
improve morale and efficiency. Communication is said to be effective when the sender and
the receiver assign a similar meaning to the message leaving both the sender and the receiver
satisfied and significant understanding of the message(Ann, Lu, and Theng, 2014). Many
people find it difficult to communicate with people with disabilities. People with cognitive
disabilities are challenged in communicatig with others especially if the disability is
significant.
Communication as a challenge
Deafness is a disability which is misinterpreted in several ways. It is a communication
challenge that could be solved easily if only people agreed to learn sign language. Many
people are not willing to learn sign language since they ignore those with hearing disabilities
(Davis, 2016). If only people agreed to learn sign language they would have solved the
communication challenge with the hearing disabilities. Just like any other person the deaf

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION 3
need to communicate. Despite the efforts that have already been made, people should be
willing to do more so as to convey their thoughts and emotions.
There are varying levels in which a person can be considered deaf. Some only
experience hearing loss when the sounds are soft and moderate -this is a problem that can be
corrected through medical intervention and the person can improve his or her communication
(Hawkridge et al., 2018). Others experience a hearing problem when I come to loud speech.
They have to ability to hear sounds but they are not able to recognize them. Their hearing
abilities can be improved by medical or audio aids. There are devices such as cochlear
implants that can be used to improve their communication. They can also be exposed to more
complicated strategies in communication which can help them understand the speaker. For
those who do not hear any sound learn sign language and lip reading.
The deaf can still communicate without writing or typing every expression that they
say. If normal people are willing to learn sign language then it can be a lot easier to
communicate with them. People can be able to exchange ideas and hold conversations
(Waters and Manning, 2013). There are chances for those who can read lips to understand
and engage in a conversation more easily. There are techniques that can be used to make sure
that they understand.
When conversing with them you have to ensure that you speak with them face to
face. Ensure that there is proper lighting for them to see the face clearly. That way they can
read all the movements on the face. It's also sensible to ensure that you are in a quiet
environment to avoid the distraction of loud noises (Jadhav and Jagyasi, 2015). Loud noises
can confuse them and they might not understand what is intended of them. For the person to
read lips properly you have to speak naturally. You should not exaggerate the movements of
the mouth. Instead, you should use short sentences and simple words. As you lead the
conversation it is important you ensure that they understand the theme of the discussion.