Throughout my career, I have experienced a vast difference among individuals diagnosed with autism and their tolerance for medical procedures.  Concerned parents say, "It took three people, and we still could not get him to take a shot; he had a major fit at the emergency room; she bit the nurse; he hasn't done bloodwork for the past four years; she had a seizure but we could not get her into the ambulance; he needs to go for her physical, yet, he won't go near the doctor's office."  These are valid concerns and unfortunately are all too common.

If your child can easily access medical services, I suggest you stop reading here.  If your child is like the majority of individuals diagnosed with disabilities, particularly autism, I invite you to read on.

The health care system can be intimidating for parents and scary for their child.  Taking a special needs child to a doctor can be a daunting experience. Parents are overwhelmed by feelings of anxiety and fear. Even a simple task as taking medicine can be challenging. Yet, there are evidence-based interventions that are proven effective in desensitizing individuals to these medical environments and processes.

The first step toward a successful intervention is to find a qualified and experienced professional who can help.  Ask for references, speak to other parents and professionals who have walked this path. You need someone with expertise in this area who can assist you and your child. Once you have that in place, it is time to conduct a comprehensive assessment and develop what I like to call "micro-goals" to teach your child the skills needed to navigate medical procedures.  An effective protocol should be based on the principles of positive reinforcement. This should be a tolerable situation for your child so make it rewarding and fun.  

A team-based approach would be ideal.  Some health care providers have specialized in working with individuals with autism and related disorders.

The problem is that there is a deficit in the number of medical professionals skilled in treating children with autism.

If you cannot locate a trained provider, you can still help your child through a comprehensive treatment plan developed by a behavioral specialist.

Learning to accept medical treatment is a skill that your child will need for life.
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These past months have taught us that it is imperative to be able to access medical care. This is one of the many uncomfortable challenges we face. But as someone recently told me "Nothing great happens in our comfort zone"

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