Barriers to Communication and How to Overcome Them
With Emma and Ethan, Academic Skills Specialist
Key Takeaways
- Communication breaks down for many reasons — language differences, strong emotions, environmental noise, and assumptions about what someone already knows.
- In midwifery, these barriers can genuinely affect care outcomes.
- Professional interpreters are the gold standard.
- Using family members, especially children, as interpreters is inappropriate — it places emotional burden on them and risks inaccurate translation of sensitive clinical information.
- A woman may not retain verbal information at all.
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Full Transcript
Emma: Welcome to today's episode on Barriers to Communication and How to Overcome Them. I'm Emma, and with me is Ethan, our Academic Skills Specialist. Ethan, why does communication go wrong in midwifery settings?
Ethan: Communication breaks down for many reasons — language differences, strong emotions, environmental noise, and assumptions about what someone already knows. In midwifery, these barriers can genuinely affect care outcomes.
Emma: Let's start with language. How do midwives handle communication when a woman doesn't speak English fluently?
Ethan: Professional interpreters are the gold standard. Using family members, especially children, as interpreters is inappropriate — it places emotional burden on them and risks inaccurate translation of sensitive clinical information.
Emma: What about emotional barriers? A woman in labour may be frightened or in pain — how does that affect communication?
What should learners understand about barriers to communication and how to overcome them?
Ethan: Fear and pain narrow focus. A woman may not retain verbal information at all. That's why midwives use short, calm sentences, non-verbal reassurance like touch and eye contact, and follow up with written information later.
Emma: What about barriers on the professional's side — things the midwife might do that block communication?
Ethan: Using jargon is a big one. Saying 'effacement' or 'latent phase' without explanation confuses women. Interrupting, dismissing concerns, or appearing rushed also shuts down dialogue and erodes trust.
Emma: How does the physical environment create barriers?
Ethan: Lack of privacy in a busy ward, background noise, uncomfortable positioning — all of these inhibit open communication. Midwives should try to create a calm, private space before having sensitive conversations.
Why is barriers to communication and how to overcome them important in midwifery practice?
Emma: What strategies help overcome these barriers effectively?
Ethan: Active listening, plain language, checking understanding by asking the woman to repeat back key points, and adapting your communication style to the individual. Cultural humility — approaching each person without assumptions — is essential.
Emma: Any final advice for students thinking about this in their future practice?
Ethan: Reflect on every interaction. Ask yourself: did she really understand? Did I create space for her to ask questions? Good communicators are made through honest self-evaluation, not just training.