April is Autism Awareness Month and is a month designated to shine a light on the disorder that is estimated to affect 1 in 68 children in the United States. Did you know that autism is one of the fastest-growing developmental disorders? According to facts published by the National Autism Association, the rate of autism has continued to increase over the last twenty years. It also is four times more likely to be diagnosed in boys. Although there is no cure for autism, it is treatable through early intervention therapy, yet each individual differs greatly in his or her symptoms. We at Westerville Pediatric Dental understand that typical stressors, like going to the dentist, may have a greater impact on your child with special needs. That is why we offer services to accommodate you and your child. We work with a variety of children with special needs, including autism. In order to help prepare your child with autism for their upcoming appointment at the dentist, we provide and encourage a “happy” visit where your child can become familiar with the office. This, of course, would not entail any dental work, just an opportunity to see the fun activities that we offer. We are also able to play a preferred song or movie during their exam to help make the experience more comfortable. If your child would like to bring a device to their appointment, we are happy to hold it for them during their exam! For a full list of our services for children with special needs or to schedule your appointment today, please visit our website at https://westervillepediatricdental.com. You can also do your part to bring awareness to autism by wearing blue this month and visiting www.autismspeaks.org.
