“Do you have any advice on how we can make my 6 year old daughter’s upcoming visit to our doctor less stressful? She was diagnosed with high functioning autism recently, and has a history of not doing well while being examined, crying hysterically from start to finish. It’s a real ordeal for all of us, including the doc! Also, my daughter has pica.”
Most children with Asperger’s and High Functioning Autism have difficulties with social interaction, communication, and accepting novelty. Therefore, spending the extra time to acclimate the “special needs” child to the new environment/experience will be crucial, for example:
- Allow ample time while talking before touching the child
- Allow the child to manipulate instruments and materials
- Exaggerate social cues
- Familiarize the child with the office setting and staff
- Have family and/or familiar staff available
- Keep instructions simple, using visual cues and supports
- Slow down the pace of the overall doctor’s visit
These accommodations will be helpful in reducing the obstacles to health care provision presented by the child’s social skills deficits and resistance to new and unusual encounters.
Often, more time is required for outpatient appointments. In a nationally representative sample, it was found that kids on the autism spectrum spent twice as much time with the doctor per outpatient visit compared with kids in control groups.
RE: Pica— Asperger’s children with pica or persistent mouthing of fingers or objects should be monitored for elevated blood lead concentrations, particularly if the history suggests potential for environmental exposure. Pica often goes away in a few months without treatment.
