For neurodivergent children, going to the emergency department can be overstimulating so the Canberra Hospital has introduced a sensory-friendly room in the children's emergency area to make the experience less overwhelming.
Autistic 13-year-old Max Fenton says when going to Canberra Hospital he often brings sensory aids like noise cancelling headphones, putty, and his sensory stuffed toy Jerry.A trip to the hospital emergency department can be stressful and scary for any patient — but for neurodivergent children it can be particularly challenging.
The Canberra Hospital has introduced interventions like an adaptive treatment room and portable sensory tools to make the experience less overwhelming.Since the introduction of a sensory-friendly room in the emergency area, the hospital has seen less neurodivergent children experiencing dysregulation.A quiet room with mood lighting, bean bags, lollipops and fidget toys may seem antithetical to emergency medical treatment — but for some patients in Canberra, it's non-negotiable. That's the case for autistic 13-year-old Max Fenton, a regular at the Canberra Hospital's Emergency Department who has a list of sensory aids he brings along to each visit.Born with multiple organ failure, including an enlarged heart requiring specialist care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Max said he's "nearly been raised" at the Canberra Hospital."Max experienced complications with intra-uterine growth restriction, which is when a baby in the womb does not grow as expected," Max's mother, Annabell Fenton, said.Max was first diagnosed as autistic at four, and was assessed as having relatively low support needs, but three years later — when the presentation of his traits changed as he got older — he was re-evaluated and rediagnosed as having higher support needs., notes "attitudes, practices and structures in a neurotypical world can create barriers that impact on autistic people being able to participate fully and equally in the community". The government has pledged $42.3 million to implement the first phase of the seven-year strategy, which includes the provision of more accessible and sensory-friendly public places.Autism exists on a spectrum, and autistic people experience sensory inputs differently, but many are highly sensitive — and anywhere with unfamiliar people, loud noises, bright lights, and strong smells can be overwhelming.Without noise-cancelling headphones, "all the noises just come rushing in at once"."It's very difficult for me to pay attention sometimes and listen. I get tired easily."Dr Alison Lally of the Canberra Hospital says overstimulation or hypersensitivity can be clinically risky on top of a patient's reason for presenting to the ED.Dr Alison Lally, a Canberra Hospital emergency consultant, said a hospital setting can often turn up the volume on this kind of discomfort." checking blood pressure, get a little prick on the finger to check blood sugar, ask you to step on some scales, and give you some medicine." Such overstimulation or hypersensitivity, on top of a patient's reason for presenting to the ED, can also be clinically risky."That results in things like a high heart rate, they start pacing, they start getting really anxious.""He may have a period of being, basically, non-responsive for quite a number of days," she said."You try to shake me — does not work. You try everything — does not work. I'm just out cold."The Canberra Hospital's Neurodiversity Distraction Trolley has tools to help patients with both tactile and oral sensory needs, and acts as a distraction tool.Doctor Lally said her experience taking her now-10-year-old autistic son to the ED inspired advocacy "for improved care for all kids but, in particular, our complex care kids and also neurodivergent kids". "Even though I know people here I came prepared with headphones and an iPad , just the whole environment was really overwhelming," Dr Lally said."It's quite unpredictable … lots of people coming and going, doors opening and closing. From there, I went, 'We have to do better'."That included things like minimising noise where possible and reducing the lights, because many neurodivergent people are hypersensitive to light — in particular fluorescent lights.A medical supply trolley was re-purposed, stocked with sensory tools and toys that could help staff provide inclusive care anytime, anywhere. Dr Lally said the trolley includes aids based on each sense, with things like noise-cancelling earmuffs, colouring books, and Play-Doh. "Just that ongoing squeezing of something really helps. We also got iPads some distraction tools, and little fidget toys," she said."Usually, just dimming the lights, turning off monitors, and as minimal staff as clinically required was actually helping a lot."The Canberra Hospital's new Critical Services Building, which opened last August, included a separate children's emergency area with a sensory-friendly room. Dr Lally said changes have also been made in paediatric procedure and treatment rooms, and some strategies can be applied in the resuscitation area. She said since the sensory-friendly room's introduction, the ED has seen a lot less neurodivergent children experiencing dysregulation. "We've got some mood lighting beanbags, which might not seem like much but it's a low stimulus ,"" means there's not much light, there's not much noise, and the colours are quite calming for neurodivergent kids.Ms Fenton said for Max the sensory-friendly room has been a "game changer".For Ms Fenton, the improvement of sensory-friendly spaces in the ED is an important part of helping neurodivergent children learn how to advocate for their accessibility needs to be met."And they're skills that they'll take through the health system with them, until they're older.". Some people like to use "autistic person" , some like to use "person with autism" , and some don't mind either. Over the years reporters Nas Campanella and Evan Young have worked on disability stories, the autistic community has increasingly opted to use identity-first language. That trend is reflected in this article, though the ABC respects the right of everyone with lived experience to use the language they prefer.Photo shows A woman with long bright red hair, wearing all black, walks down the street, smiling.Photo shows Aerial show of flood water across a highway.Autism Spectrum DisorderPhoto shows A woman with long bright red hair, wearing all black, walks down the street, smiling.
Canberra Local Stories Local News Hospital Emergency Department Neurodivergent Children Child Interventions Adaptive Treatment Room Portable Sensory Tools ED ER Autistic Autism ASD Austism Spectrum Disorder Mood Lighting Bean Bags Lollipop Fidget Toys Max Fenton Canberra Hospital Annabell Fenton Support Needs Strategy National Accessible Sensory-Friendly Overstimulation Hypersensitivity Dysregulated Shutdown Health Care Dr Alison Lally Consultant
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