Informing parents about mental retardation: A study of professional communication and parent acceptance

This study examines the nature and outcome of professional communication with parents of mentally retarded children. The research was conducted at a multidisciplinary, diagnostic clinic for children with developmental disabilities. Data collection included interviewing parents before and after they received a report of the diagnostic findings, observing professional-parent interaction during the so-called Informing Interview, and reviewing medical record and questionnaire data. The results indicated that the professionals discussed the diagnosis of mental retardation with varying degrees of frankness, explained the concept of mental retardation in less than one-third of the cases, and discussed certain test results in about one-half of the cases. There was a significant relationship between the nature of professional communication and the parents' willingness to accept the diagnosis of mental retardation; parents who received specific, clear, and frank communication were more apt to accept the diagnosis. Parental acceptance was not significantly related to the characteristics of the child, the parents, or the professional who informed them.