The Hamad Medical Corporation’s Child Development Centre will present the first in a series of autism awareness seminars for healthcare professionals on April 24 at Hajar Auditorium.
Each month the Child Development Centre sees approximately 40 new referrals for a possible Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, most of which are primary health centre referrals.
The Child Development Centre managed the care of 610 children with ASD last year.
Caregivers of patients with an ASD have often remarked that many health professionals lack awareness and understanding of the condition. They have expressed concern over how a lack of understanding can impair the effective delivery of care to the autistic patient population.
Dr Nazim Abdel Aati, paediatric consultant, Child Development Centre and Therapy Services and HMC’s Autism Programme director, explained: “For many patients with an ASD, a trip to the hospital (emergency, outpatient, or inpatient setting), optician, or dentist can be extremely stressful. Many of these patients have difficulties with communication and the unfamiliar environment and activities may cause them to experience sensory overload. This can manifest itself through challenging behaviour that can make it difficult for the health professional to conduct their diagnosis or administer treatment.”
Physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals can sometimes find encounters with patients with autism challenging. The condition is characterised by a combination of impaired social interactions, difficulties with communication, and repetitive behaviours.
Fatima Mustafa, assistant director, paediatric rehabilitation at HMC, says healthcare providers’ incorrect assumptions about individual patients’ skills or needs can create a negative experience for some patients with autism.
“Some healthcare providers may have misconceptions about persons with autism and may be insufficiently trained in dealing with the behaviours exhibited by some of their patients who have an ASD. Health professionals should be mindful of the disability aspects of autism, and their behaviour should help meet the needs of their patients and reduce their level of stress. The good thing is that those who are willing can learn how to modify their own practice so they are able to provide the right care to someone with autism.”
The planned awareness seminars are designed to highlight approaches healthcare professionals can adopt when caring for patients with autism. The seminars will provide guidance on typical behaviours exhibited by patients with autism and will offer practical tips on how healthcare professionals can effectively care for patients with an ASD.