Better communication with speech therapy Dyer IN
Communicating with older people often requires us to take more time and have patience because of the physical, psychological and social changes that occur with normal aging. Speech therapists offer some tips for family members of seniors to make communicating a little easier.
Before you start your conversation, reduce background noises to make it easier for your loved one to hear and to focus. This may involve turning off the TV or radio, closing a door, or moving to a quieter area.
Begin the conversation with casual topics. Try to avoid opening the conversation with important or stressful subjects. Talk about topics that are familiar to the person, such as family and friends, the interests of the person you are talking with. Stick to a topic, and try to avoid switching frequently from one thing to another. Allow plenty of time for responses, and especially allow them some time to reminisce.
When you’re asking them to make a decision, give a choice, such as “tea or coffee”, rather than ask an open-ended question.
Be an active listener. Pay attention to body language. And take a guess if your loved one gets stuck or can’t remember something.
After your visit, tell others who interact with your senior what you learned. You can help everyone who communicates with them strengthen their communication skills. To learn more go to Speech Therapy Dyer IN