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Speech Difficulty Etiquette

How do I respectfully interact with people who have a speech difficulty?

Here are a few tips for respectfully interacting with people who have speech difficulties:

• Give the person your full attention and maintain good eye contact.
• Allow the person time to communicate. Never interrupt or try to finish the person's sentences.
• Do not try to direct the conversation the way you think – let the person complete what they are saying.
• Ensure that you have a quiet environment – this will make communication easier.
• Speak in a natural, conversational tone. It is not necessary to speak loudly or to over-enunciate.
• Do not nod if you do not understand
• If you do not understand what is being said, do not pretend to understand – just ask the person to repeat him or herself. Never say, ‘Oh, forget it, it is not important’.
• Have patience - remember that the ability to communicate effectively is important to us all.

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