The sounds of silence: exploring lessons about silence, listening, and presence

Unless we--in our professional and nonprofessional roles--learn the importance and practice of deliberate silence, engaged listening, and restrained response, we will miss the opportunity to provide our presence and comfort to those about whom we care. And unless we--as health care professionals--learn these lessons, we will miss the opportunity to do all of that and provide a more accurate, complete diagnosis and informed plan of treatment. Done well, these practices have application to all our relationships with patients, colleagues, family, and friends.