ROUTINE APPOINTMENTS AND AUTISM

Routine Appointments and Autism: A Unique Challenge

Routine appointments like visiting the dentist or doctor are typically straightforward, but for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), they can be overwhelming. ASD, a spectrum disorder with diverse presentations, often involves sensory sensitivities and communication challenges that make everyday experiences like medical visits difficult.

Why Routine Visits Are Difficult

Many with ASD have heightened or reduced sensory sensitivities. The bright lights, loud noises, unfamiliar smells, and textures of medical and dental offices can trigger sensory overload, leading to anxiety and distress. Additionally, unfamiliar settings and unpredictable routines can heighten anxiety. Social communication challenges also play a role, as understanding social cues, expressing preferences, or engaging with professionals can be difficult. These difficulties, coupled with heightened anxiety about new experiences, often make appointments a struggle.

Strategies for Overcoming Challenges

Parents and caregivers can help individuals with ASD manage these experiences through preparation and practice. Strategies include:

• Visual Schedules: Use visuals or social stories to outline the steps of an appointment, reducing anxiety by offering predictability.

• Gradual Exposure: Decrease sensory sensitivities by slowly introducing elements of the experience, such as sitting in a dental chair or hearing medical tools, in a non-threatening way.

• Role-Playing: Practice scenarios at home by simulating appointments, helping individuals rehearse behaviors like sitting still or opening their mouths for a dentist.

• Short Appointments: Start with brief, simple visits, gradually increasing their length and complexity as confidence builds.

• Accommodations: Communicate sensory needs to professionals. Noise-canceling headphones, weighted blankets, or sensory tools can make the experience more manageable.

• Positive Reinforcement: or rewards to create positive associations with appointments and motivate cooperation.

Connections: Building Life Skills

Every individual with ASD is unique, and strategies that work for one may not suit another. Judson Center’s Autism Connections Life Skills Lab tailors support to each client, helping them prepare for routine appointments. The lab features:

• A dental room with realistic equipment

• A medical exam room with tools like scales and eye charts

• A barbershop setup with a chair and grooming tools

• A waiting room to practice the full experience

These experiential spaces allow clients to build confidence and skills in a supportive environment. Judson Center’s trained staff adapt to each individual’s sensory needs, and families frequently share success stories of children overcoming their anxieties and participating in real-world appointments.

Supporting Families Beyond Appointments

Judson Center’s Autism Connections also offers transportation to and from school, collaborates with educators to develop Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and provides diagnostics and early intervention services. Immediate daytime openings are available at multiple locations.

Contact Us

To learn more about Autism Connections or discuss your child’s unique needs, visit www.judsoncenter.org or call 248-549-4339.