Barriers to communication

- Communication is simply the exchanging of information in some shape or form. We naturally think of it as speaking and listening, but it is so much more than that, and this means that regularly the many barriers to communication are overlooked, not necessarily intentionally, but more likely because we take them for granted. As often, we only become aware of an issue when it poses a challenge to us or someone we know. There are four main types of communication: verbal, nonverbal, written, and visual. Each rely on at least one of our senses, and therefore, it is true that there is scope for a significant number of barriers to exist when communicating. If we have awareness of the variety of barriers that exist, well, then we can ensure that we provide a variety of modes of communication. In doing so, we provide options for navigating the following barriers and opportunities to enable those with different needs or preferences. Do a quick check, without using your hands, how easy is it to navigate your organization's website? Or close your eyes and then try to use the website. Barriers to communication do not only exist because of format, but also as a result of the environment. Physical barriers can refer to environment in terms of how areas are marked out or set up within the workspace. For example, big open plan areas can inhibit a worker with a hearing impairment's ability to interact because there is too much noise. Also, when discussing physical barriers, we need to be aware of the method of communication, as if someone has a disability such as dyslexia, then it could well be that they do not favor written communication, so have other types available. Cultural or attitudinal barriers can be limiting to an individual based on perceptions and prejudgments. Due to a lack of exposure to difference, it's true that sometimes a person with a disability might not be invited to a communication exchange because it is assumed that they don't have an opinion or the relevant experience. Language barriers can be challenging for a number of reasons. If we have a different mother tongue, then sometimes words or phrases can get lost in translation or not have the same meaning, but also much is communicated without spoken words via body language. This in itself can pose challenges. How often do you react to the way someone has looked at you or their posture? Those with physical impairments might not have the function to be as expressive as people expect. Those with invisible disabilities could be experiencing pain or discomfort which impacts their movement. Those with visual impairments likely won't detect the inferences and cues that gestures provide. As a result, they either retreat from interaction, for fear of interjecting at an inappropriate moment, or inversely speak over others and be judged as rude or inappropriate. Finally, for now, for those who are not neurotypical, there might be other factors that impact the way they interact as their brains pick up on stimulus that most wouldn't even notice, and they can feel as though they are dealing with a lot of noise which can then also present environmental barriers. Head to the Exercise Files for an activity that can give a sense of how this can make an individual feel. I've also included a list of some examples of what all these experiences are like to help give you a better sense the specific impact on your day-to-day life. To conclude, make it a priority to notice the various elements involved in your day-to-day communications and recognize what adaptations might be required to make them inclusive for your audience.