ABSTRACT
Fortunately researchers and the health-care industry are trying to improve the communication element of health care. Health communication is one of the fastestgrowing areas of research in the field of communication. Good communication affects our health both psychologically and physically. As the above example shows, listening also plays a critical role in the quality of the health care we receive. In this chapter we look at the effect of listening on health. We will first examine the general importance listening has to your health. Next we’ll examine listening and psychological health. Finally we’ll look at patient-health-care provider communication and how listening affects your physical health. While we will look at these areas separately, you should keep in mind that they are dynamic and necessarily tied together with one influencing the other.
