Overstimulated in the Emergency Room: A Parental Perspective on Improving Pediatric Hospital Care for Non-Speaking...

This patient perspective article presents practical recommendations, rooted in social psychological research, for pediatric emergency room and hospital care. The perspective is based upon the experience of a parent to a child with autism who is non-speaking and has required recurrent hospital care. The perspective highlights systemic challenges facing non-speaking autistic children and their families in hospital care contexts, including challenges in handoff communication and information transfer requiring repeated disclosure, as well as advocacy fatigue and dysregulating care environments. Recommendations for supporting non-speaking autistic children - likely to extend to others with sensory or communication challenges - are proposed, including developing sensory-friendly spaces, identifying ways to signal communication needs, provider training provisions, and suggestions for inclusive language.