Motivation interviewing (MI) is a communication strategy that facilitates behaviour change. It equips us with useful strategies when navigating goal achievement. Communication Health Assistants (CHAs) can use MI under the supervision or direction of the supervising clinician.
MI is one of many communication styles that a CHA can apply during treatment to help navigate the S-LPs’ or audiologists’ goals. CHA can apply MI techniques such as asking open ended questions, listening reflectively and providing affirmations as part of their supportive roles in the therapeutic process. CHAs cannot not use this to diagnose or counsel. It is merely a communication strategy to help support goal progress.
When collaborating with SLPs and Audiologists as a CHA, it is important that good communication skills be established in order to provide quality care. With good communication skills, comes trust and with trust, goals can be achieved. It is also valuable to understand the goals we are working on before using MI. With MI in our toolbox, we can help better navigate and measure where a client is with their goals to get them to where they want to be.
At HSNS, we have S-LPs and Audiologists working with Communication Disorders Technicians in 25 communities across the province. We all work together to support different caseloads such as newborn hearing screening, core pediatrics/and adults (language and speech), autism, vestibular and more. As a provider, knowing how to navigate these situations can make a significant difference in a patient’s progress and we owe that to those we service and their circle of care who come to us for support.