| A | B |
|---|
| Verbal communication | An exchange of information that uses both spoken and written words. |
| Nonverbal communication | Transmitting information without words (body language). |
| Touch | Can mean different things to different people, and can convey comfort, love, affection, anger, etc. |
| Eye contact | Suggests respect, willingness to listen, anger (if fixed), daydreaming, etc. |
| Facial expressions | Can convery anger, joy, sadness, fear, and contempt. (Control your own.) |
| Posture | Good posture may show a positive attitude, while poor posture may reflect pain, low self-esteem, tiredness, or depression. |
| Gait | Purposeful walk suggests well-being, while a bent or shuffling gait indicates sadness or discouragement. |
| Gestures | Depending on the body part used, can mean something good or bad. Waving the hand calls someone over, and pointing the thumb up means everything is okay. |
| General physical appearance | Observing for changes is important to evaluating illness. Dry skin that wrinkles easily can indicate dehydration. |
| Mode of dress and grooming | Paying attention to details indicates high self-esteem. Someone who feels ill often demonstrates little interest in their dress and grooming. |
| Sounds | Crying, moaning, gasping, and sighing can be interpreted as positive or negative. You need to know the context. (For example, crying can be for happy or sad reasons.) |
| Silence | Can indicate different things, such as anger or understanding. Also used to allow for time to think or comprehend/analyze the information presented. |
