Autism Discovery Institute

Improving the lives of children with autism spectrum disorders.

Hospital Visit Tips

Tips & Suggestions:

• Bring a comfort object for your child (a favorite toy, blanket, book, etc.).
• Bring a favorite snack for your child.
• If your child uses pictures to communicate, bring them with you.
• If your child has difficulty with transitions, give him or her (or have the nurse or doctor give him or her) plenty of warning about what will be happening next.
• Find out ahead of time about the process that your child will undergo. The process for the EEG procedure typically goes as follows:

-- Sit in waiting room

-- Go with nurse

-- Get weighed

-- Listen to heart and take blood pressure

-- Doctor comes in

-- Take medicine

-- Go to sleep

-- Wake up

-- Wash hair

-- See mommy/daddy

-- Go home

• You can cut out the pictures of these different steps available on this website and put them in the order of what will happen when your child arrives. You can show your child the picture schedule in advance and discuss what will happen, and then bring it with you to help with transitions during the visit. You can also have your child color the pictures at home while you discuss what is happening in each picture!
• Buy a play doctor's kit and practice using the stethoscope, syringe, blood pressure device, etc. Have your child practice it on you, too!
• Ask if the office you will be visiting has a video of the procedure that you can check out to show your child.
• Bring the list of questions available on this site to the doctor's office with you and show the doctor or nurse so he or she has an idea of what to expect from your child.
• Other things you can remind the doctor/nurse to do if he or she is not doing them already:
  - Dim the lights if your child has sensitivities.
  - Keep the noise level low.
  - Get the child's attention before giving a direction.
  - Use short, clear instructions.
  - Touch the child as little as possible and use a firm touch.
  - Use verbal warnings and pictures (if applicable) for transitions.
  - Give the child a few minutes to explore and adjust to the new environment.