tips for protecting your good health

What To Look For In A Doctor For Your Special Needs Child

4 December 2018 by Sasha Meyer

If you have a special needs child, you know that every encounter out in the public or any new situation can be chaotic and stressful for your little one and family. Everything, from going to the grocery store to the family doctor, can be a struggle. You want your special needs child to have a primary care physician you and they can trust so it's hard to make this decision. You don't know what to look for in a doctor for your child and want to be confident in your options, so use this guide to help you out.

Doctor specialty

Some doctors actually specialize in not just pediatric care, but in working with children who have mental and physical disabilities as well. Whether your child has autism, cerebral palsy, sensory processing disorder, or other disability or special needs requirements, you can choose a physician who has skill working with children such as yours. It's important to choose a physician with a doctor specialty in the event your child has behavioral or speaking issues that are hard to work around.

Quiet atmosphere

Some of the things that trigger your child's meltdowns are overcrowded and loud areas. Choose a doctor that has separate waiting rooms for their patients so you have better chances of getting a quiet place to wait for your kids' appointments. If this is not available in the doctors you have to choose from, then call offices around you and see if the available physicians will be willing to allow your child to wait in an unused room or break area as part of their special care when they see the doctor.

The right physician will not only understand that your child has special needs, but they will reasonably try to accommodate your child's needs. If a doctor is unwilling to tend to the needs of your child, then they are not the doctor for your family.

Easy connections

As your child undergoes treatment for a variety of conditions, they will need referrals to feeding specialists, occupational therapists, special schools, and test centers along the way. Your child's physician will be the one referring your child to special services. Make sure you choose a specialist who understands the signs your child needs additional help and who will also know the right medical professionals to get your child into the right doctor's offices. The right primary care physician will be essential to the health and growth of your little one.

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