How to Deal With Mentally Challenged People

Communicating with a mentally challenged person requires you to use a variety of skills and tactics in order to get your message across in the most effective way. You̵7;ll need to keep in mind the different individuals learn at different paces̵2;and that mentally challenged individuals still have a dominant way of learning based on their innate personalities and tendencies. Learning to communicate well will take skill, practice, and most importantly, patience.

Things You'll Need

• Communication skills

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Instructions

• 1

  Speak clearly and enunciate your words. Pause slightly between each word so that the beginnings and endings of words will be clear. Don̵7;t speak to mentally challenged people as if you feel something is wrong with them. Avoid mimicking the mentally challenged person when you̵7;re having a discussion; this is very condescending and unnecessary. Speaking loudly or very slowly can be insulting and won̵7;t make you easier to understand.

• 2

  Speak in a manner that is age-appropriate for the person you̵7;re having a conversation with. A mentally challenged child may require slower conversation, but you should still consider how much the child is able to comprehend at his age in order to keep him mentally stimulated̵2;and never speak to a mentally challenged adult in the same tone of voice you would use for a child.

• 3

  Be patient; just because a mentally challenged person may have a slower response time doesn̵7;t mean that she is not taking in what you̵7;re saying. She just needs a few extra minutes to absorb the information that you̵7;ve given and provide you with a response, so pay attention to the responses that you get when you̵7;re having a conversation with a mentally challenged person. Don̵7;t simply give directions and neglect to engage in a real discussion.

• 4

  Be willing to learn during the entire conversation. Mentally challenged individuals still have something to say, and you̵7;ll be surprised at how engaging and interested a conversation with them can be. Keep your mind open and remain genuinely engaged in the verbal exchange; this will teach you to have more understanding for people who are different and will encourage your friend or loved one to foster more meaningful relationships.