Communication: Environmental Barriers

• poor room acoustics
• background noise (fans, air conditioners, computer humming, chitchat, thin walls let sound through, etc.)
• poor lighting (can't see faces properly)
• distance from sound
• distractions
• size and arrangement of meeting table(s) (not circular, many people at the table, arranged in rows)
• interfering objects (pole in the middle of the room blocking view)
• poor angle of vision
• no assistive devises (e.g. FM system)
• assistive devices that don't work well
• no visual aids (powerpoint presentation, electronic white boards, blackboards, flip charts)