Listening in the helping relationship

Physical therapists have been reported to spend nearly one-quarter of their time with patients in listening or talking. Listening is an important tool for observation and a valuable information gathering medium. Interference with effective listening occurs when 1) the listener is unwilling to listen, 2) the listener attends only to what he wishes to hear, 3) the listener's thoughts wander, and 4) a language difference exists. Guidelines are provided for control of these problems within the context of physical therapy.