Health Care and the Autism Spectrum

Abstract

There are now so many books on autism and related disorders that it is hard to know which to purchase and which to leave on the bookshop shelf. Alison Morton-Cooper, however, has identified a real gap in the market. Her book addresses specifically the healthcare of people with autism and is written with hospital doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in mind. Her own background is in nursing, health education and healthcare journalism, and she is also the mother of a son with autism. Among the important issues dealt with in Health Care and the Autism Spectrum are the ways in which the physical environment, whether GP surgery or operating theatre, can be modified for an individual with autism, how he or she can be prepared for hospital admission or an operation, and how to reduce stress so that maximum benefit is gained from the physical healthcare provided. The book offers practical guidelines for nurses, doctors and others on communication with these individuals, with special emphasis on the need for clear concise language. As she points out, the instruction 'Give me your arm' can lead to untold distress. Many of the suggestions for minimizing stress and enhancing cooperation are simple and easy to implement—for example, make appointments at quiet times of day and keep to the times set (extremely important); consider the use of single rooms in hospitals; and ensure that young patients have their special objects close to them when waking up from an anaesthetic. Other issues covered in this brief but important work are consent to treatment, the management of preoperative and postoperative procedures, pain control, medical support for individuals with chronic conditions, and adherence to the rules of hygiene. The author recognizes the difficulty some nurses encounter when dealing with patients with autism, who do not chat or attempt to socialize in the way that 'normal' patients do. A key piece of advice is to listen to parents and pay heed to what they say about the individual's particular needs, sensitivities, and likes and dislikes. The more able or older individuals should be given as much information as possible at each stage of the treatment process. This short easy-to-read book offers solutions that are easily put into practice without excessive input in time. With such strategies, the medical care of individuals with autism spectrum disorders can be made far less traumatic for all concerned—patient, family, and health professionals.