If you have a child who has autism, it’s really important to have the right team in place.

It starts with your child’s primary doctor (also referred to as a Primary Care Provider or pediatrician). It’s important that you feel comfortable with your child’s pediatrician, and that they seem informed about care for autism. Don’t be afraid to ask if your pediatrician has cared for children with autism before.

Your pediatrician is your first point of contact. They will refer you to specialists and to help coordinate your child’s care and treatment.

Having the right pediatrician

It is important to have a pediatrician that listens to you, understands your concerns, and partners with you in the care of your child. You should be able to speak openly about your child and any questions you have about their care. It can be hard to tell if a pediatrician is the right fit until you’ve worked with them for a while. Most will do a great job, but if things don’t seem right, do what’s best for your family and child and make a change. Although it may feel awkward, this happens all the time.

Ways to find the right pediatrician

If you are looking for a pediatrician, ask around. The first step can be to work with a care manager. A care manager is a person usually assigned by your plan, who can help identify high-quality options in your insurance network and can even make calls on your behalf. They will contact provider offices to ask if they have experience caring for children with autism and if they are accepting new patients. You can also consider joining a support group and ask other parents in your community for recommendations.

Review any concerns you have about your child at an appointment with your pediatrician. You can do this as part of a regularly scheduled appointment or request an appointment to discuss any recent challenges or issues.

Understanding care options

Talk to your pediatrician about what types of care might be right for your child. Many children with autism benefit from multiple interventions. These interventions could include supports in the school system, speech therapy, occupational therapy, medications, or other behavioral therapys. Some children also benefit from Applied Behavioral Analysis. This can be offered in multiple settings to best support your child’s needs.

Sources:

American Family Physician. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Primary Care Principles. Accessed June 8, 2022. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Primary Care Principles (aafp.org)

American Pediatric Association. Care Delivery Approaches. Accessed June 8, 2022. Care Delivery Approaches (aap.org)

Finding the Right Autism Care

More about Child Mental Health