Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
Published on: June 6, 2020
Barriers to communication with people with developmental disabilities: A reflexive thematic analysis
Andrew Cashin1, Julia Morphet2, Nathan J Wilson3
1Faculty of Health and Human Sciences and Health Clinic, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract:
People with Intellectual Disability and/or autism internationally experience some of the worst health outcomes of any population group. Registered nurses have been identified as having educational deficits in this domain, which include knowledge of adjustments to communication. This study aimed to explore perceived barriers to communication with people with Intellectual Disability and/or autism. A thematic analysis of data from an open-ended free-text survey question exploring barriers to communicating in a cross-sectional survey of 279 Australian registered nurses conducted in 2020 was undertaken. Six interrelated themes were identified. Increased educational content in undergraduate and postgraduate level nursing courses is indicated. The findings identify the benefit of educational design based on the foundation of understanding the diversity in thinking and information processing represented by the forms of neurodiversity in Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Related Concept Videos
Barriers to Effective Communication I
Communication barriers include the following:
Physiological barriers: They are limitations caused by a person's health condition or disability, such as hearing loss, poor eyesight, illness, or unconsciousness. An example to overcome this...
Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Social Facilitation
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
Therapeutic Communication
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...

