ASD & cleft lip and Palate related surgery. My son is incredibly nervous!

Hi, I was wondering if anyone can offer advice on children with ASD and medical procedures.

My 8 yr old son is due to start treatment next month in the lead up to a bone graph from his hip to repair the gap in his jaw. The first apt he has will be getting an impression made to help create a brace for his upper jaw.  My son understands why he needs to start this treatment but is very anxious and worried about it. He has sensory issues and I worry that he'll panic at the 1st appointment getting the impression made.  We haven't mentioned that he will need to get an impression made because we think he'll refuse to attend at all( which has happened at our local dental hospital when they wanted to make an impression for a speech therapy reason, he never got it done!).   

Anyway, we live in northern Ireland.  The dental team we are working with are in Manchester and so we need to fly over to have all these procedures.  So I suppose my question is, is there, or is it acceptable to ask for something to help my son feel a little relaxed about these procedures? 

He had grommets put in a few yrs ago and the ended up giving him a pre med due to his anxiety.  Would getting an impression made be a similar story or is that too extreme?   

The timing of him getting his brace and bone graft is important due to how his adult teethate now growing so we don't have much room time wise. It's now or never really.  

As anyone got any

Parents
  • Thank you for replying. I hope he adopts the same attitude when he's getting it done. I told him that someone suggested he try to shut down his brain and j think he took on what I said. I also suggested he take his tab to play minecraft and listen to his music while they do it.  He does have a special interest in ww2 so I might see if there are programs I can download for him too. 

    Im trying to stay positive about all the procedures he's got to have now as I don't want to pass on any negative vibes to him, but my heart is breaking for him having to go through all this. He struggles to wear new shoes and clothes cz they feel different and now he needs a metal brace on tge front of his teeth and along the roof of his mouth! 

    I just hope he does feel positive about it all and is proud of himself for coping well. 

    Keep your fingers crossed for him! X

Reply
  • Thank you for replying. I hope he adopts the same attitude when he's getting it done. I told him that someone suggested he try to shut down his brain and j think he took on what I said. I also suggested he take his tab to play minecraft and listen to his music while they do it.  He does have a special interest in ww2 so I might see if there are programs I can download for him too. 

    Im trying to stay positive about all the procedures he's got to have now as I don't want to pass on any negative vibes to him, but my heart is breaking for him having to go through all this. He struggles to wear new shoes and clothes cz they feel different and now he needs a metal brace on tge front of his teeth and along the roof of his mouth! 

    I just hope he does feel positive about it all and is proud of himself for coping well. 

    Keep your fingers crossed for him! X

Children
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