Patient education is always a challenge, but even more so for a patient who is developmentally delayed or learning disabled. By tailoring your teaching to match his learning style, you'll minimize the risk of any misunderstanding and reduce the chances of legal action.

Keep in mind that people who are developmentally delayed have below-average intelligence and cognitive impairments that make it difficult for them to process, store, and retrieve information. Those with just a learning disability are of average or above-average intelligence, but have difficulty understanding or using spoken or written language.