Autism and healthcare

Advances in Autism,Volume 3, Issue 3, July 2017. Purpose Many autistic people don ’t have any access to healthcare services or they experience significant barriers to navigating the healthcare system. This issue represents a significant concern in almost every healthcare setting, including specialized doctors and psychotherapists, outpatient medical care, access to preventive t reatments (e.g., information on health and hygiene, vaccinations and early diagnostic screenings) and treatments in hospitals for emergency medical care. Therefore it is necessary to provide professionals with guidelines and knowledge and to establish concepts for the participation of autistic people also with respect to adequate healthcare. Design/methodology/approach As a doctor and autistic person, my training and personal experiences have provided me with a unique perspective on this topic. It has also given me an important opportunity to provide recommendations on ways to improve access to appropriate medical services for autistic individuals, improve communication between healthcare providers and autistic individuals and improve overall experiences within the healthcare and medical setting. Findings The paper provides information about the shortcoming of the health care system for autistic people, problems and barriers to access the health care system and for assessment and treatment and offers various suggestions to overcome these restrictions. Originality/value This paper is of ...
Source: Advances in Autism - Category: Child Development Source Type: research