In this article
  1. Before the day
  2. On the day
  3. After the session
  4. What we will not do
  5. Questions to bring with you
  6. Talking it through

Many parents tell us that the hardest part of a new medical visit is not knowing what will happen. Uncertainty can make even a simple day feel big, for you and for your child.

So let us walk through it together. This is a calm, step by step picture of what a stem cell therapy session with Bangkok Autism Care usually involves. Every plan is personal, so your medical team will talk you through the details for your own child.

Before the day

A session never begins on the day itself. It begins weeks earlier, with conversations and preparation.

A careful medical review

Everything starts with a review of your child's history. You share diagnosis letters, therapy notes, recent test results and anything else you feel is important. Our medical team reads it all carefully and talks with you about whether stem cell therapy may be suitable, and whether it fits within a wider plan through our programme.

Health checks

If you decide to go ahead, there are health checks to make sure your child is well enough on the day. Our medical team will explain which checks are needed and why, and will think about how to make them as comfortable as possible.

You will have a clear consent conversation. We explain what the plan involves, what is known from research, what side effects have been reported in studies and what we will monitor. Stem cell therapy is not a cure for autism, and we will say that plainly. You are always welcome to ask questions, take time and talk things over at home.

Planning sensory support

This is the part many families appreciate most. We ask about your child's sensory preferences, favourite comfort items, communication style and anything that tends to cause distress. Together, we plan things like lighting, noise, waiting time and how we introduce new people.

Our guide on sensory overload in autistic children has ideas you can try at home to prepare.

On the day

Keeping routines familiar

We encourage families to keep the morning as close to normal as possible. A familiar breakfast, a favourite toy, a usual song in the car. Small, predictable things can make a new place feel safer.

A visual schedule can help too. Simple pictures showing arriving, sitting in a quiet room, meeting the team and going home again can give your child a sense of what comes next.

A quiet room

We aim to keep waiting short and spaces calm. Your child can bring headphones, a tablet, a blanket or anything that helps them settle. You stay with your child, and we move at a pace that suits them.

How the treatment is given

The way cells are given, sometimes called the route of administration, depends on each child's plan. Our medical team will explain exactly how it works for your child before the day, so there are no surprises. You can ask them to show you the room, describe each step or talk through what your child will feel.

Close monitoring

Throughout the session, our medical team keeps a close eye on your child. They check things like comfort, temperature and how your child is responding, and they will tell you what they are watching for. Cells are prepared in MRC Healthcare's own in house laboratory, which holds ISO 9001:2015 quality management and GMP certification.

After the session

Observation and rest

After the session, there is a period of observation before you leave. This is a quiet time. Your child can rest, have a snack or enjoy something calming while the team checks they are comfortable.

In published studies, side effects were mostly mild, such as low fever or headache. Our medical team will explain what to look out for and what to do if you have any worry at all.

Back at your hotel or home

Many children are tired after a new experience, even a gentle one. A slow evening, familiar food and an early bedtime can help. Our article on autism and sleep routines has ideas for helping your child settle in an unfamiliar room.

Follow up

You will know who to contact if you have questions in the days that follow. Our medical team also arranges follow up conversations so you can share what you notice over time. We track progress across weeks and months rather than focusing on a single day, and we review it together with you.

What we will not do

We want to be clear about a few things, because they matter:

  • We will not promise any particular result.
  • We will not rush you into a decision or a date.
  • We will not proceed if your child is unwell or very distressed on the day.
  • We will not treat stem cell therapy as a replacement for your child's existing therapies.

You can read more about the research and its limits on our stem cell therapy for autism page.

Questions to bring with you

Before the day, you might like to ask:

  1. How will the cells be given for my child's plan, and why?
  2. How long will we be in the room, and can my child bring comfort items?
  3. What will you monitor during and after the session?
  4. Who should I contact if I notice something afterwards?

Talking it through

If you are thinking about stem cell therapy and would like to understand what a session would look like for your child, we would be glad to talk.

You can send us an enquiry for a free first review. Our medical team will listen, explain each step clearly and help you decide, at your own pace, whether it feels right for your family.

Common questions

Yes. Parents stay with their child, and we plan the room and pace around your child's comfort.

References

  1. Qu J, et al. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2022. Systematic review of five controlled studies including 325 children. View source

This article is general information, not medical advice. Every child is different. Please talk with your own medical team before making decisions about your child's care. Stem cell therapy for autism is a growing area of research and is not a cure.