What is active listening? How is active listening useful in dentistry?

Active listening refers to the process of reflecting back client's feelings and attitudes about a situation. Active listening involves concentration on not only the patient's spoken message, but their non-verbal signals that accompanies those words. Active listening also allows for follow-up and probing of important areas in order to obtain additional information. Active listening in the dental office is key for developing a rapport between the patient and the dental provider. It helps the patient feel that he or she has been heard and indicates caring by the provider. Active listening encourages the patient to continue to talk and provide information, and can help the provider to evaluate understanding of the patient's feelings, and ensure that his or her message is received accurately.