Hospital visits are a bit much even for neurotypical people, so you can imagine how overwhelming it can be for a person with autism.

The constant beeping of monitors, overhead pages, echoing corridors, and the hum of industrial HVAC systems will overload a sensitive audio system. Add to this the flickering fluorescent lighting (which some autistic people perceive as a strobe effect) and highly clinical, bright-white surfaces, and you have the perfect storm.

These are only a few examples of how hospital visits are not autism-friendly in any way, shape, or form. But people with sensory hypersensitivity also need access to medical care, so things can’t remain this way.

In fact, a few simple adjustments can make hospitals and clinics more autism-friendly.

Here are a few ideas:

1. Quiet Waiting Spaces with Visual Supports

This is not necessarily about having a separate waiting space with a “Quiet, please!!!” sign on the door. It’s about creating a sensory-controlled haven that restores a sense of autonomy to the patient.

Here’s how you can do this:

Install sound-absorbing wall panels or acoustic vinyl flooring to dampen echoes.
Install dimmable LED lighting that bounces off the ceiling rather than shining directly down.
Use chairs with high backs and sides (like a booth or a pod) that provide a physical barrier from others in the room. This helps the waiting patients feel like they have their own bubble.

Next, because autistic people become anxious when they lack a clear script for what comes next, install signage that serves as a visual script. For instance, you could use a consistent color or symbol to identify rooms (instead of just numbers).

Also, it helps to have "first-then" boards, to highlight the flow:

First: Sit and relax.
Then: A nurse will come to get you.

A hospital can also demonstrate support and openness by displaying the Autism Infinity Symbol. This visual was designed by Australian sociologist Judy Singer in 1998, who meant it as a symbol of neurodiversity as a whole. Since then, the Autism Infinity Symbol significance has evolved, and nowadays, many autistic people identify with it.

2. Low-Stim Exam Rooms

The medical examination space can also be overwhelming. Between the texture of the paper gown, the fluorescent lights, and unexpected touches, it can be a lot to handle for a sensitive person.

To prevent sensory overload, use warm-colored lighting, ensure medical tools aren’t visible, and keep weighted lap pads or blankets at the ready. If possible, warm up surfaces or provide cloth coverings to soften the tactile impact.

3. Autism-Friendly Scheduling

A crowded waiting room is a high-intensity sensory and cognitive challenge for autistic people. Things are even more difficult for children, who may have a meltdown or completely shut down in front of the medical staff.

While public hospitals can’t control the influx of patients in the waiting room, the situation is different for private clinics. The best way to approach this is to offer the option to book appointments during less crowded times, such as first thing in the morning or at the end of the day.

4. Staff Training

Even trained medical professionals can have a tough time understanding children and adults with autism. Depending on when and where they went to medical school, neurodivergence may not have been included as a topic of study.

So yes, even medical staff need to learn about how to behave and talk with neurodivergent people.

Let’s take communication as an example. Doctors usually have between 15 and 20 minutes for a consult, and at least 5 of those minutes must be dedicated to charting and other documentation. This is why many patients report feeling rushed. Plus, complex medical forms don’t make things easier.

However, to a neurodivergent brain, rapid-fire questions and fast talking are a direct path to overload. Medical personnel must be patient and give an autistic person time and space to process the questions and formulate a reply.

They also must learn to communicate clearly, using literal language. Describe every step of the consultation. Make sure the patient understands the recommendations and can follow through with the treatment.https://www.credihealth.com/blog/what-is-neurodivergent

Wrap Up

And there you have it: with a bit of patience, good organizing, and some extra effort, your hospital or clinic can become a haven for neurodivergent people with autism. Given that around one in 36 children in the U.S. is believed to be on the spectrum, this type of effort is the one that can make a huge difference in the future.