PREPARATION AND DESENSITIZATION IN VIEW OF PERFORMING VIDEO ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: A CASE SERIES.

Researchers developed a special preparation method to help 5 autistic children successfully complete brain wave tests (EEGs). The approach used gradual exposure, play, predictable routines, and parents' help to reduce anxiety about the unfamiliar medical procedure. All children were able to complete their EEG tests successfully. This shows that with proper preparation addressing sensory sensitivities and using familiar routines, medical procedures can be made more comfortable for autistic children.

This case series describes a structured preparation protocol for video electroencephalography (EEG) in five children with autism spectrum disorder. The intervention used gradual exposure, environmental desensitization, parental involvement, and playful approaches anchored in predictable routines. The protocol addressed common challenges including sensory hypersensitivity and difficulty with novel situations. Results showed high success rates for both EEG acquisition and patient cooperation.

The authors attribute success to modulated sensory input, increased environmental predictability reducing anxiety, and caregiver involvement supporting co-regulation. The findings support implementing individualized, behaviorally informed protocols for neurophysiological assessments in autistic children.

Supports developing individualized, behaviorally informed preparation protocols for medical procedures involving autistic children. Emphasizes need for structured desensitization, predictable routines, and caregiver involvement to improve cooperation and reduce anxiety during neurophysiological assessments.

Very small sample size (n=5) limits generalizability. Case series design provides no control group for comparison. Lack of standardized outcome measures. No long-term follow-up reported. Individual differences in preparation needs not detailed.

EEG recording in children on the autism spectrum is often a challenging task due to their frequent hypersensitivity to even mild sensory stimuli and difficulty coping with novel situations outside of familiar routines. This article describes the video electroencephalography (EEG) preparation process carried out with five children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), using a structured protocol of gradual exposure and environmental desensitization involving outpatient staff and the presence of parents. The high success rate in both EEG acquisition and patient cooperation underscores the clinical importance of structured preparation and desensitization protocols in facilitating EEG procedures for children and adolescents with ASD. In this study, gradual and playful exposure - anchored in predictable routines and symbolic play - helped modulate sensory input, addressing a core challenge in ASD.

The intervention also leveraged the psychological benefits of increased environmental predictability, which plays a crucial role in reducing anxiety driven by uncertainty in individuals on the autism spectrum. Moreover, the active involvement of caregivers likely supported co-regulation and emotional safety, further contributing to the successful outcomes observed. These findings advocate for the integration of individualized, behaviourally informed protocols into routine clinical practice for neurophysiological assessments in children with ASD.