How Can Your Child With Autism Have Successful Doctor Visits?
We reached out to experts at Henry Ford Health’s Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD) to learn strategies to help you plan for doctor visits with your child.
Here are eight tips from CADD experts Sarah Peterson, manager and lead BCBA, and Pediatrician and Medical Director Tisa Johnson-Hooper, M.D. (Want more? Read the full article here.)
1. Find a doctor with autism experience
Finding the right physician with the right expertise is getting easier, thanks to more available resources and increased awareness.
Reach out to Autism Alliance of Michigan’s MiNavigator program or Resource Directory to find a physician experienced with autism. Your insurer may have information to help make your choice. Some health systems, like Henry Ford Health, provide detailed information on their websites about physician specialities. And don’t discount the value of word of mouth, says Peterson.
2. Ask to bypass the waiting room
For some children, the waiting room can be a highly stimulating environment filled with games, toys, bright colors and screens. Whether or not that’s a good thing depends on your child’s preferences and sensory needs. A very engaging environment can be hard for a child to transition from.
Don’t be afraid to communicate your challenges, suggests Dr. Johnson-Hooper. When families share their experiences, the staff may consider alternatives, like using a pager, moving directly to an exam room or suggesting appointments during slower times of the day and week when the waiting room is less hectic.
3. Lean into your ABA team to prepare
Whenever possible, inform your child’s ABA therapy team two to three months before the appointment so they can help your child prepare. Any practice is better than none.
The BCBA can create a plan and even include some things to work on at home. “For example, looking in their ears…If you have an ear thermometer, it mimics the same instrument a doctor will put in their ears,” Peterson says.
4. Advocate for your child
Ask your child’s doctor to communicate openly so your child knows what to expect. “Coming up with creative ways to incorporate a kiddo in the exam is always my rule,” says Dr. Johnson-Hooper. This builds trust.
If your child reaches their tolerance limit for one visit, don’t be afraid to schedule a second visit, if necessary. Or, if you know your child will struggle with one particular aspect of the exam, ask to save it for last.
5. Use technology
If your child doesn’t understand a particular aspect of the doctor’s visit, see if you can look it up on your phone, in real time, to provide your child with a visual.
“Depending on the level of language they have, they might not fully understand when the doctor says they will give a vaccine, but a picture is much easier to understand,” says Peterson.
Use telehealth whenever possible, especially if your need is urgent or you know your child will not tolerate an in-office visit.
6. Let the practice know when you need help
Confirm the date and time of your appointment a few days before, just to be sure there haven’t been any changes. Let the staff know your preferred way to receive appointment reminders.
From transportation to needing written information provided in your first language to any challenges in accessing a pharmacy — let your provider know and brainstorm solutions. “As a patient, and this may be a tall order, you have to be able to bring forth these concerns with your provider,” says Dr. Johnson-Hooper.
7. Communicate openly
Ask for accurate, understandable information from your child’s doctor, and be prepared to share openly and honestly anything that would help make your child’s experience better.
8. Give yourself grace
Not every visit will go perfectly — and that’s OK. Recognize the small wins and know that you’re doing your best for your child’s wellness. “You have a full year before the next one, hopefully,” says Peterson.
