Tips for Creating a Positive Experience for Neurodivergent Patients 

Every single one of your patients is different and has different needs. However, that shouldn’t just stop at the procedures you perform in the exam room, but also in the way you treat your patients. Creating a more accessible and inclusive culture can help you better serve your neurodivergent patients. 

What is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity is short for neurological diversity. It refers to the biological fact that brains are unique and many people have different ways of processing information and interacting in different environments. However, there are some brains that are more different than others. Neurodivergence can include conditions such as ADHD, tic disorders, dyslexia, sensory processing, and spectrum disorders. While neurodivergence often leads to innovative thinking and creativity for individuals who are neurodivergent, it can also mean struggling in social interactions, including those between patient and caregiver. 

Taking an Informed Approach

So what does this mean for your dental practice? We often consider physical disabilities already, such as making things more wheelchair accessible. But what about invisible disabilities and disorders? It’s often “out of site, out of mind” for many practitioners. Taking a more informed approach in your own practice can help you provide a more supportive and caring environment for all of your patients. Further, it can even improve the workplace for your neurodivergent employees as well.

Tips for Taking a Neurodiversity Informed Approach

Some of your patients may struggle with sensory processing during procedures, others may just not understand the importance of regular checkups, while others find crowded waiting rooms painful. So here’s a few tips to help with providing a better experience for your neurodivergent patients.

• When scheduling appointments, ask patients if they have any special needs, such as sensory disorders or spectrum disorders, which allows you to be more prepared going into the appointment; try to arrange these appointments during quieter times if necessary. 
• Don’t crowd your appointments; crowded waiting rooms are uncomfortable and annoying for most people, but can be excruciating for neurodivergent patients.
• Allow for a longer appointment time with neurodivergent patients; longer appointments will allow you time to explain things, answer questions, and give your patient a moment to “breathe” when they need a moment before continuing.
• Be sure to explain what you are going to do before you do it; don’t just start reaching into your neurodivergent patient’s mouth! 
• If the neurodivergent patient is a child, they may be more comfortable with a parent in the room, especially if they require help communicating. 
• Tell your patient that if they need you to pause the procedure because they feel uncomfortable, that they should raise their hand to signal you to stop; this will give them some sense of control over a situation that otherwise would be scary or overstimulating. 
• Be okay with making appointments shorter or adaptable; while having a longer time to explain things is great, trying to keep to a strict appointment outcome isn’t always reasonable. Instead, it may be better to take smaller steps; rather than doing a full teeth cleaning in one appointment, work on only a portion of the mouth in one sitting, breaking up an entire cleaning into multiple appointments. 

Final Thoughts

By providing a more positive experience for your neurodivergent patients, you’ll be able to provide overall better dental care for them! Remember to be adaptable and compassionate when working with all of your patients. By making these adjustments to your practice, you’ll not only provide more vulnerable patients with the care they deserve, but all of your patients will benefit!