Aim: To explore communication experiences between family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and healthcare personnel during hospitalization.; Design: A qualitative descriptive study approach with interviews of family caregivers was used.; Method: Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted from June-September 2015 with ten family caregivers of adults with I/DD. Participants were recruited through an advocacy organization in the north-eastern United States.