Whether you are caretaker for a mentally challenged 28-year-old, or you have a mentally challenged person in your family, learning how to correctly discipline a mentally challenged adult is not so different from disciplining a mentally challenged child. By leading and teaching through love, logic and positive reinforcement, you can encourage good behavior rather than punishing for the bad. Give a mentally challenged adult the tools to express himself so you can better understand how he feels when he exhibits certain behavior.
Step 1
Maintain good communication between yourself and the mentally challenged adult's primary care physician. Above all, you should understand your charge's condition and what it means for her brain function, abilities and level of understanding. You cannot learn to properly care for and discipline a mentally challenged adult without first learning how much information she grasps and how best to present information.
Step 2
Present visual representations of good behavior and its rewards. A chart, for instance, will work better than verbal instruction and reprimand, since it is easy to understand and immediate, notes MentalHelp.net. Remember that a mentally challenged adult may have limited understanding. Pictures of desirable behavior, bright stickers and swift discipline by adding or taking away stickers can be easily seen and understood.
Step 3
Give disciplinary warning or praise immediately after the behavior. A mentally challenged adult may not be able to remember or comprehend discipline for past actions. If you notice inappropriate behavior, take the adult aside and talk about it, instead of waiting until later. It will stop the behavior immediately and give time for the mentally challenged adult to absorb the discipline.
A study performed by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in Bangalore, India and published in a 2009 issue of "Primary Care Companion to The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry" found that positive reinforcement along with therapy helped a mentally challenged adult female overcome obsessive-compulsive disorder. When possible, offer praise over negative feedback for the best results, as most mentally challenged adults will respond better to positive reinforcement.
A study performed by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in Bangalore, India and published in a 2009 issue of "Primary Care Companion to The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry" found that positive reinforcement along with therapy helped a mentally challenged adult female overcome obsessive-compulsive disorder. When possible, offer praise over negative feedback for the best results, as most mentally challenged adults will respond better to positive reinforcement.
Step 4
Talk about feelings and emotions with the mentally challenged adult, and give him the tools to properly express those feelings. The book "Arts- Therapies- Communication" suggests using art as a means to teach mentally challenged adults to express themselves without outbursts, rudeness or physical action. Whether you teach the adult to draw a picture expressing his feelings, or learn feeling words together, you help him to process his feelings and talk about them before resorting to outbursts or inappropriate behavior.
Step 5
Set a good example and contain your own reactions. Caring for a mentally challenged adult is emotionally and physically draining. Using physical punishment on a mentally challenged adult is unacceptable. If you feel your temper taking control, leave the situation and take a break. Discipline your charge the right way for a mentally challenged adult who loves, respects and obeys you.
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