Interviewing Techniques for Patients with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

When conducting a patient interview, it is crucial to understand the individuals’ level of ID as well as their expressive language skills in order to communicate effectively. Review of intelligence testing and adaptive skill deficits is critical to achieve an understanding of dependency needs and how the patient navigates the community. It is important to note that most individuals with ID have better receptive than they do expressive language skills. Though they may have limited verbal skills, they typically still understand what is being said during the interview. Challenges in the Diagnostic Assessment of Psychiatric Disorders in Individuals with Intellectual Disability