What can speech-language pathologists and audiologists do to become more health-literate?
It is critical that we communicate critical health information effectively. Some of the best practices include using plain language and simple visual aids, rather than complicated health jargon. I can poke fun at my profession, talking “doctorese” with the best of them, but we need to meet our clients at their level of understanding. We need to consider the cultural and social factors that affect patients’ health care decisions and to encourage their response using the teach-back method. We need to talk with our patients, not to them. You already know this. You’re the professionals in this area. You know that communication is a feedback mechanism, and we’re constantly adjusting the feedback. I’m asking for your partnership as health literacy ambassadors. Because our educational mission is so tied to communication, we can partner with you in the services you provide. I see it as the link between us—between what we’re trying to do on a national level, and what ASHA members do on a daily
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