Are You Speaking the Same Language as Your Patient or Team?

 

Are You Speaking the Same Language as Your Patient or Team? Understanding Representational Systems in Dentistry

Have you ever explained something to a patient or colleague in what seemed like perfectly clear English, only to be met with blank stares or a confused nod? You’re not alone. Often, the issue isn’t the content of your message, but the language you’re using — and I’m not talking about French, Spanish, or Mandarin.

You might all be speaking English, but you’re not necessarily speaking the same internal language. And that’s because we all experience and interpret the world in uniquely individual ways.

 

💭 Why We Don’t Always Understand Each Other

Every person has a unique internal communication model – shaped by their:

• Life experiences
• Beliefs and values
• Attitudes and memories
• Thinking patterns (meta programmes)
• Sensory preferences (representational systems)
• And the language they use internally

This mental model filters the vast amount of information we encounter every day, allowing us to make sense of the world around us.

 

🧠 You’re Hit With 592 Billion Bits a Day – But You Don’t Notice Most of It

A 2020 study from the University of California, San Diego, estimated that the average person consumes 74 GB of information daily – that’s about 592 billion bits per day.

This includes everything from:

• Emails and messages
• Conversations and notifications
• TV, podcasts, adverts, signage
• Subtle cues like tone, body language, and facial expressions

To avoid being overwhelmed, your mind filters this torrent of data by deleting, distorting, and generalising much of it — often unconsciously. The information that survives this filtering process becomes your internal representation of reality, which influences:

• Your emotional state
• Your physical and biochemical responses
• And ultimately, your behaviour

 

🗣️ What Is a Representational System?

In NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), representational systems are the internal “languages” we use to process experience and communicate.

There are four main systems:

1. Visual (V) – Seeing
   Thinks in pictures, colours, diagrams, and visual layouts
   Clues: “I see what you mean” | “It looks good”
2. Auditory (A) – Hearing
   Thinks in sounds, spoken words, music, and rhythm
   Clues: “That rings a bell” | “It sounds right”
3. Kinesthetic (K) – Feeling
   Thinks in sensations, movements, and emotions
   Clues: “That feels right” | “I grasp what you’re saying”
4. Auditory Digital (Ad) – Internal dialogue
   Thinks in logic, lists, facts, and reasoning
   Clues: “That makes sense” | “I understand logically”

 

🧾 Examples: How Representational Systems Show Up in Everyday Speech

Let’s look at how people with different dominant systems might respond to common questions:

 

Q: What’s the weather like today?

Representational System	Example Response
Visual	“It looks grey and overcast.”
Auditory	“It sounds like rain on the windows.”
Kinesthetic	“It feels chilly and damp.”
Auditory Digital	“According to the forecast, it’s 12°C.”

 

 

Q: I don’t understand.

Representational System	Example Response
Visual	“I just can’t see what you mean.”
Auditory	“That doesn’t sound right to me.”
Kinesthetic	“I can’t get a feel for it.”
Auditory Digital	“It doesn’t make sense logically.”

 

 

Q: I do understand you.

Representational System	Example Response
Visual	“Ah, now I see what you mean.”
Auditory	“That sounds right now.”
Kinesthetic	“Yes, I get it now – it feels clear.”
Auditory Digital	“That makes sense to me now.”

 

🔍 Why Representational Systems Matter in Dentistry

Understanding representational systems can transform how you connect with patients, colleagues, and even friends and family. Here’s how:

• A visual patient may need diagrams or photos to grasp a treatment plan.
• An auditory team member may thrive with clear spoken instructions.
• A kinesthetic learner might prefer hands-on demonstrations or role-play.
• An auditory digital colleague may want step-by-step logic before accepting a new system.

When you learn to identify and match someone’s dominant representational system, you can:

• Reduce misunderstandings
• Build trust more quickly
• Improve training outcomes
• Increase patient confidence and compliance

 

🧩 It All Comes Down to Communication Fit

If you’re ever in a situation where:

• A patient doesn’t seem to “get it”
• A colleague misunderstands your intentions
• You feel like you’re being clear but not heard…

Ask yourself: Am I speaking in a representational system that matches theirs?
Because when the systems clash, communication falters — even when everyone speaks English fluently.

 

Would you like to learn how to identify representational systems more quickly in your team or with patients? That’s exactly what we explore in greater depth in our communication workshops and coaching.