Language and Communication Barriers

1. Language and Communication Barriers

2. Race, Age and Gender • Race should not affect communication at all unless you are speaking two different languages or dialects. At some point all people get frustrated because of misunderstanding and being unable to make ourselves understood by another person. Another way it can effect communication is when people have accents, some people find some accents harder to understand than others, for example: they may have different meanings or sayings for words. • Age makes a difference because certain people developed mentally at different rates. It takes a certain amount of maturity in the brain for two people to communicate on the same 'wavelength'. Also some younger service users may find it harder to communicate with a older service user as they could feel intimidated or worried that the older service user may judge, this is also the same for an older service user talking to a younger service user. • Gender affects communication because men and women think differently although there are times when they can be perfectly in tune with one another. Also women and/or men may find it hard to communicate with the opposite gender, or they may even find it hard to communicate with the same sex. This could be to do with issues or experience which they have had in the past.

3. People who do not speak English as a first language. • People who do not speak English as their first language, can struggle to communicate. • This can cause many problems, from getting a job to getting professional health care, this could be because they do not know where to get the help, whether that help be learning the language or just getting a translator. • This can also mean that they may not be able to get the health care in which they need, so that they can get better, and they may wait for the problem to persist until there is nothing that can be done. • People not having English as their first language can also have an effect on their social life and on how they act when they do go out. • Some people may find that the person is ignorant and is ride when they don’t respond when it is just simply that they do not understand what the person is saying.

4. Interpreters and Translators • Interpreters convert what has been communicated, spoken or sign language, from one language to another. It involves listening and understanding what has been communicated to then reproduce statements,questions and speeches in a different language. • Whilst translators convert written material from one language to another,(usually the translators mother tongue). Translators ensure that the translated version conveys the correct and exact meaning of the original. • Translators and interpretors may be required to translate more than just spoken langauage. For example they may need to translate what a person is signing, or it may be that someone has written in braile and this needs to be translated into another form of communication that can be understood. • The same words can mean different things to people in different cultures.

5. Advantages Interpreters are trained professionsal in at least one specific language, therefore they can ensure that communication is as clear as possible and correctly translated..Interpreters allow people to speak in there native language, ensuring that they express themselves, this can also help to feel more relaxed when in difficult situations. .Misunderstandings can be avioded . Disadvantages There are few disadvantages when using interpreters although if the message is not interpreted correctly then it can lead to confusion There is not always an interpreter in the area that speaks a language that is required Some users fear they will be judge; therefore they are less likely to open up to interpreters Advantages and Disadvantages of Interpreters

6. Advantages Translators can help people to feel valued Help to overcome and differences of cultures Advantages of using translators are similar to those when using interpreters Disadvantages There are not many disadvantages of using translators that can be identified however; in some cases translations may not be accurate Also similar to a disadvantage of interpreters it is not always guaranteed that a translator of the require language will be available Advantages and Disadvantages of Translators

7. Language and communication barriers for the disabled • for those with a mental or physical disability language and communication barriers are faced daily. Some of those who face disabilities also face hearing and sight impairments. These can also cause barriers of communication. • For someone that is mentally disabled they may face difficulties of hearing what is being communicated or even understanding what people are trying to say. • Although in some cases those who are disabled will be able to listen and understand but they will not physically be able to form words and engage in a conversation with others. This can be very frustrating for them. • For some people with disabilities different forms of communication can be used to help them to overcome any barriers. For example for someone who has a hearing or speech impairment sign language may be used to enable them to communicate. • However if health and social care professionals or those who they are communicating with do not know or understand sign language this can again cause barriers for those with the disability.

8. Language and communication barriers for the disabled • However if health and social care professionals or those who they are communicating with do not know or understand sign language this can again cause barriers for those with the disability. • For those with sight impairment they are likely to use braille as one form of communication. However if information is not written in braille for them they will face a barrier of not being able to read the information for themselves. • Another barrier they may face is within a new or unknown environment it is likely that they will need assistance to get around effectively or even someone to explain and describe the environment for them. It will be vital for someone to spend a large amount of time helping these people

9. Terminology • What does terminology mean? • 1. A formal classification of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed by physicians and other health care providers, published in annual revisions since 1996 by the American Medical Association (AMA). Each procedure is assigned a 5-digit code. The system was developed by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) to assist in the assignment of the reimbursement amounts to providers by Medicare carriers. Many managed care and other insurance carriers base their reimbursements on the values established by HCFA. (From dictionary)

10. Terminology • There are many different types of terminology, some of these are in: • Football • English • Public Services • Swimming • Health Care • Computer • Basic • Legal • Medical • Medical terminology is a language for accurately describing the human body and associated components, conditions, processes and process in a science-based manner