3 Ways To Make Doctor Visits Less Aversive For Children With Autism
Many things can trigger anxiety in everyday life. For children on the autism spectrum, everyday activities we view as mundane can cause extreme anxiety. Among those, visits to the doctor can be one of them. This can be a highly stressful experience for someone considered “normal”, so imagine how difficult it can be for an individual with a neurological disorder such as autism. Autism is a disorder that affects how an individual’s brain functions. This can make it challenging for someone on the spectrum to use simple coping tools in stressful circumstances. We’ve shared three ways we make doctor visits less aversive for our autistic son.
1. Visual and verbal prompts
Visuals are a great way to prepare him prior to a visit. We typically use a laminated calendar made visible in a location he can see a few times throughout the day to serve as a reminder. We also use verbal prompts along with our visuals in order to get him familiar with certain terms or language. This has served as a great tool to help prepare him so he’ll know when we’re going and what to expect.
If we have an unplanned visit that may happen due to an emergency, we use the same prompts, only more frequently. For example, we needed to book him for a same-day visit due to a rash he developed and we had just 7 hours before our appointment time. In this situation, we gave hourly visual and verbal reminders so he’s not caught off guard.
We also incorporate toys that resemble those used by doctors for pretend play. He’s able to visualize the tools that may be used during his visit while manipulating them which provides further comfort.
2. We allow him to make decisions throughout the visit
Allowing him to make decisions gives him some autonomy and doesn’t make him feel like the visit is completely out of his control. These decisions can be as simple as him choosing to take the elevator or stairs or choosing where to sit in the waiting room.
3. Situational narratives
This is extremely helpful in situations where someone is entering his physical space or needs to tolerate being touched. Prior to staff entering his space; we give him a verbal prompt so he’s aware of what is about to happen with a quick overview of the steps then narrate what is being done as it happens. We use phrases like “the nurse is going to take your temperature now” then narrate, “she’s gonna put the thermometer in your ear, now we have to wait 3 seconds,…”. It makes things a little more predictable for him and reduces his anxiety.
It’s always best to select strategies based on your child’s abilities and needs. You can also make changes on the fly if unexpected events occur. Sometimes it may be as simple as a back rub to help your child relax. Do whatever it takes to make the experience as tolerable as possible.