| What are some recommendations to communicate with children | Establish rapport
Give eye contact to the child and parent.
Be at the child’s eye level
Ensure child-friendly environment
Observe, wait, listen (OWL)
Use simple language and explain medical concepts appropriately
Offer choice --> can give rewards
Do mock examinations on a toy or parent |
| What are some barriers when talking to teenagers | Can be rude
May not be forthcoming about information
Not comfortable talking in front of their parents
Can ask them if they want the parents to step out
May not understand medical jargon
Mental health can be a large problem
Important not to treat them as a child |
| What are some consultation basics which can be used for teenagers | Make a quick assessment of level of maturity
Consider introducing yourself more ( or less ) formally
Set some ground rules
Avoid speaking to them as a child HOWEVER
Simplify your language and explanations |
| What are some hurdles that can come up when communicating with children | Easily distractible
Rely on their parents
Hard to explain the concepts
Lower attention span, difficult to keep them interested in the consultation
May not want to speak to the doctor/in front of their parents
Some kids can be non-verbal, may be shy, defaults to adults
Can be extremely hyperactive or may not engage
Adult can be more dominant then the child |
| What are some good ways to establish a good rapport | Jokes, smiles and laughs can help a child relax and begin to trust you
Different societies vary in the amount of eye contact which is usual with an adult
A certain amount of eye contact is helpful. If you do not look at children you might
not notice if they are upset
Be aware of attachment behaviors |
| What type of questions would you use when communicating to children | Open questions and comments encourage the child to continue talking and ensure you are actively listening
Use simple language. Adults often talk to children without stopping to think if they are being understood.
Try to explain things to them in a way that links with their own experience |
| What is attachment | An affectional bond that a person feels for another
Strong early attachment bonds predict later parent-child relationships
Attachment can be inferred from attachment behaviors |
| Types of Attachments | Secure attachment “Waa mummy!”
Insecure attachment -->
Avoidant/detached “I don’t care!”
Ambivalent/resistant “I love you and I hate you!”
Disorganised/disoriented "I'm confused" |
| What are the different theories of Language Development | Nativism (nature): Innate language acquisition device (Chomsky)
Behaviourism (nurture): Reinforcement, social learning and observational (Skinner)
Interactionism (nature and nurture): A combination of innate and environmental factors |
| What can attachment predict | Attachment predicts family responses to children’s illness |
