How to organize a trip to the clinic with a special child

A trip to the clinic is often stress regardless of whether the child has developmental features or not. The queue to the doctor, the queue “I just ask”, the lack of coupons, the search for a medical card – more than enough reasons. Now imagine that to all this is added a child who is afraid of a large crowd of people or is experiencing physical pain from loud noises. Stress in this situation only increases.

                We have two buildings that we go to. The first is a branch of the clinic where pediatricians sit, and the second is the main one, where all the narrow specialists are located. And if there are no special problems with the main building, then going to the pediatrician is a whole story. The branch is located on the ground floor of a residential building and is simply not suitable for waiting in line. Narrow corridors and a large number of people – this is what Alice is not happy about. And if it even so coincides that children will run nearby and scream loudly (no matter from joy or grief), she will start up very quickly. She has a low auditory threshold and hurts her with loud sounds. At first, she simply pinches the left, and then she begins to cry, then to sob and soothe her after that it is very difficult, she will try her best to get away from this unpleasant situation.

                Therefore, when we go to the pediatrician I carefully prepare myself. Firstly, I always make an appointment and arrive 10 minutes before the appointed time. Secondly, if there are many, many people who came without an appointment (yes, the children are ill and it happens that they didn’t have time to sign up, but need treatment), I honestly warn that my daughter has autism (most often I use this diagnosis, without listing the rest, because it is the most famous and understandable) and it is very scary to be in a cramped room among a large number of people and please treat with understanding that we will go to the doctor on time. Honestly, never before in such a situation have they encountered aggression. They treat us with understanding. Most often, of course, exactly at the time when the appointment is scheduled, it does not work, because the reception is late, but you don’t have to miss everyone either. This, of course, is an extreme option, if Alice is in a good mood and has something to do, then we can easily sit in line, without any kind of explanation. And here is another important point. We must definitely figure out what to do with it.

                Somehow she was carried away by folding words from three cards (for example, the word “cat” – a cat is drawn, and from the bottom of the letter this picture is cut into three parts, like a small puzzle). I scored a mountain of these cards, and we dragged them everywhere along. Passing an oculist, drops were dripped into her eyes and she had to sit for about half an hour, then to check the reaction. On that day, the line was huge, not only to the optometrist, but also to the neighboring rooms. We squatted together with her in a corner, took out cards and started collecting. After 10 minutes, all the children had cards, I gave each of them three pieces, they collected them and ran to brag and take the following. The first time in the clinic we had so much fun. Time passed quickly, they called us, checked our eyesight and let us go. After this incident, I always have with me several options for what to do with the child.

                Sweets work well too, if a trip to the clinic is accompanied by something tasty, which is not often allowed, then this can work as a positive reinforcement. It is also good to prepare your child for the trip in advance. Show him a picture or photograph of the place where you are going, tell him what they will do or play a doctor if the child understands speech and can play.

It is in our power to make a trip to the clinic a pleasant adventure, at least for the child. And you can pamper yourself afterwards and do not forget to praise that everything was done very well, that you are well done and smart! Good doctors and good mood!