ABSTRACT
Often the above behaviours will be displayed for positive reasons, such as the squealing and grimacing I described above. However, when looking after a person with learning disabilities who also has a life-limiting illness, it is very important to be able to interpret the meaning of any changes from their normal behaviour in case these are an indication of pain or other distress. Using an ‘observe and react’ technique by people who know the patient best is one of the best ways of interpreting and treating symptoms in these patients.
