The correct answer to this open question is the following.
Assumptions held by either the speaker of the listener can cause breakdowns in communication because can distort the real meaning or intention in the purpose of the communication.
Two terms exemplify the distortion of communications. They are the stereotype and the prejudge. Both are preconceived notions of reality. Assumptions also distort the understanding of the message between the Transmitter and the Receptor of the communication. The assumption can be wrong and this change the meaning or the understanding of the ideas transmitted.