Caring for children with special needs can be challenging if they refuse to attend special events and appointments that are for their own benefit. If your child refuses to see the doctor or nurse for a routine checkup, then you may need some extra guidance to keep them safe and healthy. Today, we have some great advice for encouraging your child to attend. Plus, we are also discussing the importance of healthcare appointments for children with special needs.
They require more care
Children with special needs require more care due to the lack of independence and individual needs. Most require both parental or carer care as well as healthcare assistance. They may be comfortable with your care but refuse care of others, thus getting them to attend an appointment might be a challenge.
Ensuring they attend is crucial for their health. Without the right care, they may suffer poor health alongside their existing and ongoing needs. For instance, there are oral health concerns for children with special needs, such as Down Syndrome. Ensuring the staff at the practice will help. You could join a family dental healthcare practice such as Bowral Street Dental Practice that offers friendly staff and special assistance for those who worry about attending appointments.
Warn them prior to the appointment
Due to the healthcare needs of special needs children being more than that of a child without needs, they require more warning of an upcoming event. You will most likely need to prepare them for the appointment and ensure they are aware of what it entails. Discussing with them the benefits of attending will help them understand why they need to go.
It might be difficult to communicate to them the importance of the appointment if they often disregard listening to you. So, find someone they do listen to and ask them to relay the importance. For instance, you could ask a friend or another family member that they listen to so that they take on board the information.
Be patient with their emotional needs
There are many disabilities that can heighten the emotions of a child with special needs. Although some may suffer from physical restrictions, others may find it difficult to cope with stressful situations that take a toll on their emotions.
Thus, it is important to stay connected with the child before, during, and after the appointment. They might find attending healthcare appointments extremely stressful. It could lead to them feeling significantly low after and extremely stressed beforehand. You as their carer will understand how patient you need to be with them throughout the process.
If you find it takes a lot of time to get to the appointment and get the child calmly in to see the doctor, then it may be worth getting there earlier than planned. This will allow you time to prepare yourself as well as your child. After the appointment ensure that you are there for them, show them extra care, and maybe even reward them for their extraordinary efforts