Communicating Visually in Pediatrics. A Step-by-Step Tool for Supporting Patients and Caregivers

This spiral-bound visual communication aid is designed to help pediatricians and others who work in medical settings with children who are nonverbal, including toddlers; children with conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, language disorders, intellectual disabilities, or oral-motor apraxia; or children who do not speak English.

Nearly 400 easy to understand, full color images depict common medical procedures, from bandaging to vaccine administration as well as important patient-provider communication, including describing symptoms or post-visit instructions. Each image is captioned in both English and Spanish for maximum in-office utility, and the pages are fully wipeable for simple disinfecting after each patient. Interactive use of this resource will improve communication, reduce fear and anxiety, and boost patients’ understanding and participation in the medical visit.

• Four-color interior
• Captions in both English and Spanish
• Includes both office-based and inpatient procedures
• Wipeable pages for easy disinfecting
• Spiral binding for lay-flat, easy use with patients

Author Information

Danielle Fleckenstein, MA, CCLS, is a Certified Child Life Specialist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She works with siblings of neonatal intensive care patients to help them understand and process their baby siblings' medical situations. She also facilitates therapeutic interventions with children to promote self-expression and development of coping skills. In a previous role, she prepared children and adolescents for medical procedures and treatment by using age-appropriate language and medical play and promoting effective coping strategies to help reduce anxiety associated with hospitalization and crisis situations.

Alan I. Rosenblatt, MD, FAAP, is a neurodevelopmental pediatrician in private practice in Chicago, IL. He is an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine. He is coeditor of the parent book Autism Spectrum Disorder: What Every Parent Needs to Know, also published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Rosenblatt served on the Autism Expert Panel of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Autism Subcommittee of the AAP Council on Children with Disabilities.