Communication with Patients with IDD
Almost 60% of people with intellectual disabilities have significant communication issues.
Communication difficulties are frustrating for both providers and patients. Lack of understanding can potentially lead to extra costs because unnecessary tests or procedures might be done in an effort to diagnosis and treat patients.
There are many tools and strategies to improve communication, patient engagement, understanding, and ability to follow-through with provider instructions.
Check out these video trainings, tools, and links to improve communication.
Communication difficulties are frustrating for both providers and patients. Lack of understanding can potentially lead to extra costs because unnecessary tests or procedures might be done in an effort to diagnosis and treat patients.
There are many tools and strategies to improve communication, patient engagement, understanding, and ability to follow-through with provider instructions.
Check out these video trainings, tools, and links to improve communication.
Video Trainings
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This video describes the prevalence of disabilities in the United States, outlines the barriers and health disparities that many people with disabilities face, and highlights the experience and recommendations of self-advocates. The training concludes with tips and resources to support you in offering more accessible healthcare to all individuals. For a PDF version of the slides, click here. |
This training for Primary Care Providers shows best practices for communication when working with patients with IDD (12 min).
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This video demonstrates best practices with a doctor working with a man with autism at a primary care visit (8 min).
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In this Interprofessional Virtual Grand Rounds presentation, Dr. Thad Woodard and Molly Rutledge, Speech Language Pathologist, present cases that highlight communication strategies for working with patients with IDD, and how providers can involve patients with IDD in their health decisions (46 min) (2017).
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Physician Education in Developmental Disabilities
The AADMD is proud to offer a free, 12 credit-hour webinar series based on the first internationally vetted curriculum in Developmental Medicine created in the United States. This series is designed to enhance the practice skill of primary care physicians who would like to provide better care to their adult patients with developmental disabilities.
The AADMD is proud to offer a free, 12 credit-hour webinar series based on the first internationally vetted curriculum in Developmental Medicine created in the United States. This series is designed to enhance the practice skill of primary care physicians who would like to provide better care to their adult patients with developmental disabilities.
Emergency Care Webinar Series
The AADMD is proud to offer this webinar series on emergency and hospital care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The AADMD is proud to offer this webinar series on emergency and hospital care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
These communication boards can be used with patients who have limited verbal skills.
This is a handout about a picture based pain scale and using it with patients.
Free visual support tools from Autism Speaks.
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For individuals and caregivers: Supports participation in the visit and helps make sure next steps are clear.
Free picture cards and instructions for building picture schedules.
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Links
- Communicating Effectively (Vanderbilt Healthcare Toolkit for Primary Care Providers)
- Improving Communication with Patients who have I/DD (Florida Center for Inclusive Communities)
- Plain Language Materials and Resources (CDC)
- Plain Language Planner for Pallliative Care
- Doctor-patient communication with people with intellectual disability - a qualitative study (Wullink, Magda et al., 2009)