3. Understanding commUnication barriers in the ed

In this episode, we step into the shoes of autistic patients to explore what the emergency department feels like from their perspective. Using a real-life case study, we highlight the sensory overload, communication barriers, and emotional challenges that many autistic individuals face when entering a noisy, fast-paced, and unpredictable environment like the ED.

We draw on current research and lived experience to explain how behaviours often labelled as “difficult” or “non-compliant” may be natural responses to fear, confusion, or overstimulation. What might look like agitation or shutdown is often the result of an internal system in distress that needs understanding, not judgment.

We share practical strategies to help identify signs of stress in the ED, adapt communication styles, and make minor but consequential environmental adjustments that can prevent escalation and support a more positive patient experience.

This episode is about building empathy, shifting perspective, and learning how to create a space where neurodivergent patients can feel safer and better understood. It starts with simply seeing the ED through their eyes.