Free Pictures for a Blood Test: Visual Supports for Autistic and Non-Speaking People

Satu V

Oct 29

2 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

A blood test only takes a moment, but for a profoundly autistic, non-speaking person it can be a big thing. The waiting room is full of people, a tight band goes around the arm and the nurse comes close with a needle. If the person does not know what will happen next, the tension grows at every step.

With pictures, you can go through the blood test at home first. When the steps are familiar, it is easier to know at the lab where you are and when the visit will be over.

A blood test in pictures

The Lainattu Rauha® picture bank has pictures for the whole visit. Here they are in the order a blood test usually goes:

Health centre
I check in at the kiosk
Health centre waiting area
The nurse welcomes me
I roll up my sleeve
Tourniquet on the arm
The nurse cleans my skin
Blood test
I press the needle site with cotton
Plaster on the inner elbow
The examination is finished
I return home

Health centre
I check in at the kiosk
Health centre waiting area
The nurse welcomes me
I roll up my sleeve
Tourniquet on the arm
The nurse cleans my skin
Blood test
I press the needle site with cotton
Plaster on the inner elbow
The examination is finished
I return home

If the blood test needs fasting

Some blood tests are done without eating first. Fasting is hard for many people, because the familiar breakfast is skipped. With the Fasting picture you can show the evening before that in the morning we eat after the blood test.

When the needle feels scary

The picture bank also has pictures that help make the visit feel safer. A familiar adult and a comfort object can come along. With a break card the person can ask for a short break, and a timer shows how long a step will take.

My comfort object is with me
A familiar adult is with me
I show a break card
The nurse shows a timer

Pictures for adults too

Blood tests are part of life at every age. The blood test picture is also available as an adult man and an adult woman. Over 700 pictures in the picture bank show adults, and more will be added as needs come up.

Blood test, adult man
Blood test, adult woman

How to use the pictures

Look at the pictures together for a few days before the blood test. Repetition makes the steps familiar.
Choose the pictures that match your own health centre. If there is no check-in kiosk, leave that picture out.
Tell the nurse in advance that the person does not speak and uses pictures. The nurse can show a picture before each step.
The plaster and the examination is finished pictures show that the hardest part is over.
The I return home picture shows what happens after the visit.

Download the pictures for free

The Lainattu Rauha® picture bank has over 2,600 pictures for everyday life with profound autism. Every picture is available in colour and in black and white, and you can type your own text on a picture before printing. The picture bank is free and needs no registration.

Search for example for blood test, plaster or health centre.

Open the free picture bank