Learning to Listen

"Learning to listen" offers alternatives to professionals dealing with people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of the book is to promote a more interactive approach to caring, taking the views of both the client and the carer into consideration, on a personal rather than a clinical level. Through the use of illustrative use of case studies Lovett suggests that many of the behaviour modification techniques in present use are overly controlling and ignore the client concerned. He shows that by building an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect many of the more unpleasant answers to behavioural problems can be avoided, with benefits to providers and users alike. He urges carers to be more open and sympathetic to the past and present needs of the client, pointing out that a wider knowledge of the client can be of use in determining the cause of their behaviour, so as to come to a more informed conclusion about the best action to take. This straight-forward yet sensitive book leaves the carers providing a better service and the clients with their dignity in tact and with greater autonomy.