Behavioral Management for Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disorders

Intellectual and developmental disorders can severely impair a patient's ability to communicate and socialize. Individuals with such disorders tend to have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, and reacting to different sensations. Symptoms can range from very mild to very severe. To properly treat these patients and, if necessary, refer them for appropriate medical care, dental professionals must be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of each patient's specific disability. This article gives details about behavior associated with intellectual and developmental disorders and describes specific techniques for care that may be used routinely at home and carried into the dental setting.