Verbal communication in medical consultations is well recognised as being important to the delivery of medical care and is usually easy to interpret and analyse. It is discrete with clear endpoints, it occurs in a single mode, it is mostly under voluntary control, and communicates our cognitive thoughts more than our emotions. In contrast, non-verbal communication is less easy to interpret: it is continuous even in silence, can occur in several modes at once, operates at a less conscious level, leaks spontaneous cues, and is the channel most responsible for communicating attitudes, emotions, and affect.1,2 We should not be surprised, therefore, that non-verbal communication plays a significant role throughout the medical interview and is an important variable in doctor-patient interactions. Non-verbal communication helps to build the relationship, provides cues to underlying unspoken concerns and emotions, and helps to reinforce or contradict our verbal comments.3
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