There I was putting away groceries when my day took a sudden turn..... my son who deals with the challenges of SPD (sensory processing disorder) had an uncontrollable bloody nose. No matter how much we treated it (as the many he'd suffered from before), we couldn't get it to stop. I threw him in the car and took him to the ER. As a parent, it's something you never become okay with; ER visits suck. With that said, I had a great experience for what it was. Here are some things that can help ease an ER visit with your child that is affected by sensory issues.
1. Let the ER staff know right away that your child has sensory issues. I don't like my child being labeled but in some situations, you need to make it a priority to protect their interests. In an ER setting, it means letting the staff know to take some extra precautions. Well-trained staff are going to make it a priority to talk your child through every little piece of what's happening. They will know how to communicate and how to work with your child. Give them that benefit to know that they need to take those extra steps.
2. Speak up. If your child is starting to overload, say something. If it's not essential to have something immediately done, have the doctor give them a minute to calm down. Try to find alternatives to strong smells, tastes and overstimulation. Many times, there are other ways but no one will contemplate them unless you speak up.
3. Stay calm. Yes it's hard and there are times you might need to close your eyes and take a deep breath yourself. However, you need to stay calm so they can stay calm. You need to take that deep breath so they see you taking deep breaths and calming yourself. Talk them through it. Be there.
ER visits are scary regardless but if you advocate for your child, it will become something you will both come through stronger.
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