Trouble-Indicating Behavior

Verbal or nonverbal behaviors that signal confusion, misunderstanding, or difficulty in communication. In research on dementia and human-robot interaction, TIBs are categorized into types including: requests for repetition, requests for clarification, metalinguistic comments ("I don't understand"), lack of uptake (ignoring the speaker), hypothesis formation, and minimal dysfluencies. Analyzing TIBs helps designers understand when and how communication breaks down, enabling development of appropriate repair strategies for assistive technologies.