What approach should providers use to communicate with patients who have IDD?

• A. Use multimodal communication with verbal, visual aid, sign language, etc. Provide access to all of it
• B. Communicate only verbally
• C. Rely on family members for all communication
• D. Avoid discussing care plans

Answer: (A)

Communicating with patients who have IDD requires providing information in multiple formats to match individual needs and preferences, ensuring understanding and participation in care decisions. Using a mix of verbal explanation, visual aids, sign language, simplified language, and written materials allows each patient to access information in the way that works best for them. It's important to ask the patient how they prefer to communicate and to offer access to all modalities as needed, using plain language, checking understanding with teach-back, and adjusting pace and detail to what the patient can handle. This approach respects autonomy, improves accuracy of information shared, and reduces misunderstandings.

Relying on verbal communication alone can leave some patients with limited understanding, while depending entirely on family members for communication can compromise patient privacy and autonomy. Avoiding discussions about care plans prevents informed consent and meaningful participation in decisions.