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Going to the doctor

Kate Kestrel

Advice needed please. 
If you have a young autistic adult that you are supporting, and they have a symptom that any (in fact every) doctor would say: ‘get that looked at/checked out by a GP to make sure it’s nothing serious’ but the young adult does not want to go to the doctor, what is the best way to approach helping them with that? When they are totally emphatic that they don’t want to go and see the doctor, but the symptom is one that there is a TINY TINY risk it could be something like cancer? What do you do? 
It’s most likely (by far) that it’s nothing serious but there is a TINY chance that it could be? And the young person hates to be put under pressure of any kind (and I don’t think pressure would help but only stress them out hugely). What do you do in this scenario? 

Parents

  • Sorry I don't really have any advice but was wondering what the reasons for not wanting to visit the doctor are?  For the past couple of years I've had this issue with my 11 year old son, he gets really upset or refuses to attend a GP appointment.  At his age I haven't really given him much choice & the GPs are always really nice, my son is ok once we are there  but I don't know what makes him worry or get angry about going in the first place.  I think he finds it difficult to communicate these things also.

    Do you that your young adult would feel as anxious with having an online / phone appointment?  This could then lead to a face to face apt if required?

  • in reply to Nikmum
    Nikmum said:
    , my son is ok once we are there

    You could try doing a quick review session when you get back folowed by a suitable treat to reinforce it.

    Something like "was the visit as bad as you thought it was going to be? Wasn't the doctor nice to you". It he says it was horrible then get him to explain it while the memory is fresh as it may reveal the underlying cause (eg "I hate being around sick peeople")

    It may be a way to reinforce the lack of anticipated trauma for him and create that little hook in his mind the next time he needs to go.

Reply
  • in reply to Nikmum
    Nikmum said:
    , my son is ok once we are there

    You could try doing a quick review session when you get back folowed by a suitable treat to reinforce it.

    Something like "was the visit as bad as you thought it was going to be? Wasn't the doctor nice to you". It he says it was horrible then get him to explain it while the memory is fresh as it may reveal the underlying cause (eg "I hate being around sick peeople")

    It may be a way to reinforce the lack of anticipated trauma for him and create that little hook in his mind the next time he needs to go.

Children