Pediatricians, Mental Health, Nutritionists
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1 more
Address: 75 Bickford St
| Jamaica Plain, MA
02130
Rating: 5.00
(3 reviews)
Insurances:
Aetna,
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS),
Ages Served:
Children to adults
Care Settings:
In-clinic,
AboutReviewsServicesInsurancesFAQ
About Boston Children's at Martha Eliot
Whether it’s a simple treatment or a complex procedure, we understand that you want the best care for your child. Boston Children's at Martha Eliot provides primary and preventive care for children, adolescents and young adults, including well child appointments and sick visits.
For more than 50 years, Boston Children’s Hospital has operated this site located in the vibrant Boston neighborhood of Jamaica Plain. From its early beginnings in the Bromley-Heath housing development up until today, Boston Children’s at Martha Eliot has provided health care an improved the health of countless children and young adults.
Please note that without member information we cannot guarantee that
your specific plan covers these services. We recommend asking the care
provider before beginning services.
Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
75 Bickford St,MA,02130
Get in Contact
(617) 971-2100
contact@childrenshospital.org
Reviews
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my youngest son who is 20 months old saw Dr. Semmes and her amazing team yesterday for his first well child appt at this office and wow we had such an amazing experience we booked it a few months ago when we firstmoved back to MA and it was definitely worth the wait My son has in recent months after several ear infections become very fearful of doctors and dentists however it ended up being a really positive FUN experience for him his dad i. they had a child life specialist who provided our son with toys to play with during the visit and had amazing techniques to distract him while he received his immunizations the nurse who administered the immunizations also had great techniques They both were so sweet and understanding. great communication from everyone clean office and friendlyfront desk staff very grateful and relieved i definitely plan on bringing my next baby here who i am having in feb thank you
Devin MacConnell
17 January 2024
google review
Never had a bad experience here. The doctors and nurses are great.
Your pediatrician might be able to administer screenings, but most general doctors are not trained to formally diagnose autism. They might refer you to a qualified diagnostic clinician which include:
Developmental Pediatricians
Child Psychologists
Child Psychiatrists
Pediatric Neurologists
Pediatric Neuropsychologists
Your experience might look different depending on the type of clinician you choose. Many families prefer working with developmental pediatricians. Others might work with a psychiatrist or another specialist to get a different perspective.
A formal ASD diagnosis, or a medical diagnosis, helps you get the support your family needs, especially within the context of accessing medically necessary therapies and services.
Insurance Coverage for Therapies: Medically necessary therapies for ASD are often covered by insurance including, but not limited to, speech therapy, ABA therapy, and occupational therapy.
Financial Support: A diagnosis is required when applying for social security or disability benefits.
Plan for Care: A diagnosis helps identify your child’s support needs. For example, your child might need to develop social communication and self-regulation skills.
Future Research: The more data we gather through evaluations, the more we can improve services for autistic children and adults.
Yes, picky and selective eating is actually a quite common concern for children with autism. If you rolled your eyes looking at the steps above because your child with autism has never had a full day's serving of vegetables in their life, you are definitely not alone. As if getting kids to eat their veggies isn’t challenging enough, research shows children with autism have significantly more eating challenges than their peers who are not autistic.
In addition to sensory difficulties that can lead to a lot of anxiety with food, autistic children are 4x more likely to have gastrointestinal issues such as stomach pain and discomfort. This creates the perfect storm for extra extra picky eaters - and a lot of added obstacles and concerns for parents.
The difficulties associated with autistic children and food can cause a wide range of concerns from children being underweight to overweight (overweight children can still be at risk for nutritional deficiencies!). This can lead to slower than normal growth and nutritional deficiencies like low vitamin D and calcium levels. Even when given multivitamins, many children with autism are still found to have some of these nutritional deficiencies.
Here are some tips:
Keep to a schedule - setting schedules for meal and snack time can help picky eaters build up their appetite throughout the day
Minimize distractions - removing distractions like screens and toys can help your child be more engaged at mealtime
Approach new foods together - Make new foods less scary by trying them together. Touching and smelling the food together before tasting it
Support choice & control - Allowing your child to pick which foods they eat will help them feel more in control
It may not seem obvious, but eating is a complex behavior that involves perceptual, emotional, and cognitive processes. And we know that children with autism process things differently. While many of us look forward to things like our afternoon snack, it may be an activity that causes a lot of anxiety for your child.
Parents describe food selectivity being determined by a few of the following factors: texture (69%), appearance (58%), taste (45%), smell (36%), and temperature (22%). Uniform texture, bland and neutral color foods are reported to be overwhelmingly preferred by more than 90% of children with ASD.
Visual aids can be a game-changer when it comes to preparing your child for new experiences. Create a social story or a visual schedule that explains what will happen during the eye exam. Include pictures or drawings to help them understand the process and what to expect. Going through the visual supports with your child beforehand can help ease anxiety and build familiarity.
Videos can also be a great tool to help prepare your child for what to expect during their eye exam. Here is a great example from the QuadSquad!
To help things go even smoother, review the visual aid of your choice with your child multiple times — a week before, a few days before, and then again the day before.
Get in touch with Boston Children's at Martha Eliot