Table of Contents
Introduction
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a medical condition that negatively affects the mental health of patients. The developmental disorder causes brain impairments and hence the child experiences weak communication skills and poor social interactions. The young patients who have the condition also display repetitive behaviors and low interest in social activities. Symptoms of the condition are recognized within the initial two years of the child. It is important for the parents to seek early medical intervention from the pediatricians so as to enhance the functioning ability of the child in the society (Developmental, D.M.N.S.Y. and 2010 Principal Investigators, 2014, p.1). The purpose of the research is to examine the benefits of effective communication in enhancing healthcare outcomes of the patients who have the ASD condition. Proper communication involving the radiographers and the autism pediatric patients is significant in minimizing the radiation exposure.
Literature Review
ASD does not have a cure. However, therapy can be provided to enhance the communication, behavioral and social interaction abilities of the affected individuals. Speech therapy is important in improving the oral communication skills of the affected children from the early stages of life. The occupational therapy aims at improving the competency of the child in social interactions and in the performance of basic tasks like dressing or cleaning. It is important to provide education support that addresses the special needs of the learners who have the ASD condition. One support entails providing extra lessons to the learners who are slow in understanding concepts due to the ASD condition (Brunsdon et al., 2015, p.897).
There are adults who are affected by ASD. These people had ASD symptoms during childhood. However, they did not receive proper diagnosis and management of the condition. Proper diagnosis is important among the adult patients because it enables them and their families to understand the effective care strategies and receive appropriate support (Christensen et al., 2016, p.8). There are several autism-specific programs that enable the affected patients to live independent lives and secure employment opportunities that are in line with their interests and abilities.
Methodology
The objective of the research is to determine how effective communication between the young ASD patients and the healthcare practitioners is important in limiting the radiation exposure. Most young patients become anxious when they are given care by the strange health workers. Providing proper care to the young ASD patients, therefore, requires a health professional who is friendly and has good communication abilities (Wong et al., 2015, p.1960). Successful imaging that has minimal radiation exposure occurs when the radiographers maintain good communication with the young patients and their parents. The qualitative research process had 10 respondents. 5 of the respondents were the radiographers, while the other 5 respondents were the mothers of the young ASD patients.
The 10 respondents provided data using research questionnaires. The research confidentiality was ensured because the respondents did not indicate their names on the questionnaires. The data collected from the questionnaires was studied using the STRATA program. The mothers illustrated the conduct of the young patients in various environments. They also communicated the conditions that calm their children. The radiologists provided data about the problems that they experience when providing the imaging procedure to the young patients. The intention of the data collection process was to give the radiologists the strategies to enhance the imaging process based on the experiences of the mothers.
Discussion
Proper communication between the radiologists and the young ASD patients and their mothers is important in improving the quality of care. This is because the young patients benefit from the reduced radiation duration. Proper communication reduces the anxiety levels of the children and this improves their cooperation during the radiation process. The communications skills of the health practitioners can be improved in various ways. The first approach of enhancing communication with the young patients is training. The radiographers and other health staff should be enrolled in a learning program that improves their relationship and information exchange abilities with the young patients and their parents or caregivers. The second approach of enhancing the communication abilities of the health staff is through teamwork. The radiologists work together to determine the most effective communication strategy with the young ASD patients and their parents or caregivers. It is important to manage ASD at the early stages. The young patients and their parents can also enroll in an autism support group (Blumberg et al., 2013, p.117). The support group is important because it enhances the sharing of information that improves autism management.
Conclusion
The research result shows the benefits of proper communication in the management of the ASD among the young patients. Effective communication creates a relaxing care environment that enables the radiologists to conduct the imaging procedure in the shortest time possible.
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