Every situation you come across with any patient will be different. Understanding the individual needs of people is important as well as good communication. Speaking with family members or carers can be of great help especially when dealing with someone with some form of learning disability. This would help us determine their ‘normal’ which would help highlight any abnormalities to that normal and allow us to notice changes which may indicate some form of pain. Learning ways to communicate to a patient with autism will enable a theraputic relationship to be built and trust gained. This then hopefully makes any interaction less stressful for the individual. Any concerns or issues should be escalated to management and possibly security should the need arise. Empathy and compassion will even more important in any situation that I may come across with a potentially scared and/or stressed patient with autism.
