Aphasia Institute – Health Care Professionals (Part 4)

On-line – Self-Directed Learning

Acknowledge Competence

People with aphasia need others to believe they are competent and have more understanding and social skills than may be apparent.

Acknowledging competence can be through a tone of voice that is natural, choosing adult or complex topics for discussion, or integrating techniques into natural talk. Helpful strategies include:

• Saying “I know that you know” at appropriate times.
• Attribute communication breakdowns to your limitations as a communicator, “You know I’m not good at explaining these things clearly!”
• Deal openly when you have to communicate with a partner to obtain or give information.

Despite best efforts, there will be times when communication breaks down – it is valid and comforting to acknowledge the shared experience of being frustrated.

Norma