Have you ever had a patient yell at a doctor or had a nurse make a sarcastic comment in front of a patient? You’ve almost certainly heard children whine in pain or frustration and doctors place emphasis on specific words to make a point.

The meaning of the message depends on the tone because it portrays emotions which the speaker is feeling. Matching tone can be uncomfortable and awkward, or it can be fun and uplifting. Matching the speaker's tone is a critical aspect of effectively facilitating communication between individuals. Matching the speaker's tone - or not matching it - can make or break the communication.

So take your mother’s words to heart, and Watch Your Tone! 

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the impact of tone on the interpreted message
• Explain how matching tone fosters trust in the interpreter's performance
• Explain when it is best not to match tone
• Demonstrate appropriate tone-matching

Course Details: 

• 2-hour class
• CE approved 
  • ATA: 2 points
  • CCHI: 2 performance hours
  • IMIA: 0.2 CEUs
  • WA DSHS: 2 hours
• Live, instructor-led online classroom
• Instructor: Erin Rosales