Try not to show surprise or dismay at the quality of speech/voice.
Listen patiently – many speech impairments become worse if the speaker feels anxious or rushed. If you display impatience through facial expression, body language or wandering attention, you may contribute to the speaker’s difficulty.
Don’t interrupt a speaker by finishing his/her sentences or saying something like “do you mean . . . ?” Allow him/her to finish the communication before questioning or confirming what was said.
Maintain visual contact while you listen – you can use visual cues to help you understand what is being said.
If you do not understand what is said, tell the speaker. It is better to let him/her know you did not understand than to guess or be dismissive of his/her communication. Or ask for permission to have a person more familiar with the speaker’s voice assist with the conversation.
Modeling slow, quiet speech usually causes the speaker to slow down and speak more distinctly.
When unsure, repeat what you think the speaker is saying and ask if this is correct.
When appropriate, ask the speaker to write down a message or “show you” what he/she means.
Don’t assume that difficulty speaking means that the speaker has difficulty understanding.
If the speaker uses an alternative form of communication or augmentative device, be prepared to take extra time and be attentive to these communications, treating them with the same concern and seriousness that you would a spoken communication.
Never imitate the speaker’s manner of speech.
