The Impact of Adaptive Sensory Environments on the Perioperative Care for Children with ASD

Safe and compassionate anesthesia care is a paramount yet unmet medical need in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The perioperative period is a time of great stress for pediatric patients and their families, and the cohort of children with ASD who require anesthetic care is a uniquely vulnerable, underserved, and growing population. Over 110,000 children with ASD have surgery in the US annually, and thousands more require anesthesia for diagnostic imaging and other non-surgical procedures. Several preoperative conditions, such as the need for prolonged fasting, protracted wait times, required transitions, bright lights, and new sounds may lead to frustration, anxiety, and ultimately maladaptive behaviors. Through a prospective observational trial, this project will evaluate the impact of an adaptive sensory environment and individualized behavioral coping plan (ASE/BCP) on the perioperative experience of children with ASD and their families. We hypothesize that the use of ASE/BCPs in children with ASD will result in less preoperative anxiety, less premedication, and greater parental satisfaction. Successful completion of this study will demonstrate a groundbreaking, paradigm-shifting approach by which institutions across the US can model their perioperative care. The programmatic integration of ASE/BCPs provides a novel framework to advance safe, holistic, equitable, and compassionate care for children with ASD who require surgery and anesthesia.