Listening to Patients

ABSTRACT

Being able to listen to patients is a basic and necessary tool in any helping profession. While dentistry’s primary job is evaluating and carrying out procedures, taking the time to learn effective listening can help establish better working relationships with patients. In this article, active and passive listening are discussed and broken down into several skills, which can be learned and practiced in order to be a more effective listener.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Harold L. Pruett

Harold L. Pruett, PHD, is an adjunct professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, Graduate School of Education and Information Sciences. He is a clinical professor of psychology at UCLA in the Department of Psychology, and recently retired as the Director of Student Psychological Services at UCLA.