Sometimes I have trouble communicating with my younger, “tight” (or is that cool?) patients. Terms that seem simple and straightforward to me don’t necessarily come across that way to the Millennial Generation. Also known as the Net Generation, iGeneration, Generation Y, and Echo Boomers, these young individuals cut their teeth on technology and are expected to spend about one-third of their lives online. So what’s the problem?
As a Generation Jones member, I still use terms like “clockwise” when describing how to use a BAPS board, which doesn’t really fit into the digital age. For some reason, even simple directions alluding to the points of a compass (North, South, East, and West) also defy comprehension. But I can’t quite bring myself to describe an exercise using directions synonymous with iPod use (“Scroll through your home program to find the rotator cuff exercise, then select a two pound freeweight. Highlight the correct angle of inclination as you press the weight away from your body,” etc.), and I get annoyed when my young patients text each other as I work with them.
Maybe learning styles are different nowadays … or maybe I’m just getting crotchety. Funnily enough, I feel completely at home with patients older than I am; it’s just the young ‘uns who perplex me at times.
What are your solutions for bridging the language divide with younger patients? Do you “speak digital,” or do you rely on simple hand gestures to get your point across when the truncated speech of the future leaves you hanging?
After all, you don’t want to be ‘kward with your young patients — it could make the rehab experience an epic fail.
Anne Ahlman, MPT
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