Seven Types of Nonverbal Communication

• Nonverbal communication is important with children who cannot speak yet. Mimi Haddon/Lifesize/Getty Images

  Reading someone by their actions and emotions is a tool that everyone uses each day without thought. Being able to identify what a person is thinking or feeling, without having to engage in verbal conversation, is a basic part of being human. It also is important to understand since some people with disabilities cannot express themselves verbally.

Eye Contact

• Engaging someone in deep eye contact can reveal intense interest, kindness and care. In contrast, a person who avoids eye contact might give the impression that the person is not listening or does not care to hear what the other person is saying.

Closeness

• The way a person sits next to someone else reveals how comfortable they are near other people. Children will run toward and hug their parents tightly, yet a stranger might cause them to hide. When someone decides to stand apart from someone else, they probably do not feel comfortable being close to that person.

Touch

• Touch is a powerful sense that reveals much to someone communicating nonverbally. A light touch on the shoulder can be a sign of kindness while a full-force push will leave feelings of confusion, pain and even fear. Holding a hand reveals care and maybe love, although someone pulling away from touch signals that the person does not want comforting.

Expressions

• Reading the expressions on peoples' faces is a powerful form of nonverbal communication. Emotions (sadness, happiness, anger and confusion) are seen through the eyes, eye brows and mouth, to name a few.

Gestures

• Simple gestures that are taken for granted each day give off a flurry of emotional clues. Folded arms tells approaching people not to bother the person, and even not to come near. Open arms, on the other hand, will provide approaching people with the impression that they are welcome.

Sound

• Verbal sounds include all parts of speech that are used to converse between two or more people. Nonverbal sounds still are prevalent, even without speech, and thus become an important form of communication. Sighing, moaning and breathing heavily might all suggest comfort and satisfaction. On the other hand, grunting, grinding teeth and even the absence of sound will give an impression of sadness or anger.

Body Language

• Understanding body language is vital to reading someone's emotions. The way a person stands, perhaps with one foot out tapping, might suggest impatience or boredom. Someone sitting with their knees up against their chest might indicate the need for comfort.