Physical Examination for Autism
During the physical examination, the health professional looks for
specific signs of
autism. A child suspected of having autism will have
assessments, including:
- Weight and height measurements, to determine
whether he or she has a normal growth pattern.
- Head circumference
measurements, to determine whether head size is normal. Some children with
autism have a larger- or smaller-than-average head.
- Examination of
the face, arms, and legs, to look for any birth defects.
- Routine tests to ensure that developmental delays aren't caused by
hearing loss and/or vision problems.
- Evaluation for self-inflicted
injuries. Sometimes injurious behaviors such as face slapping or head banging
are caused by an underlying infection or injury.
- Reflex testing.
Children with autism often have undeveloped reflexes.
- Exercises to
determine hand dominance. Some autistic children have a delayed development of
right- or left-handedness.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | John Pope, MD - Pediatrics |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Fred Volkmar, MD - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
| Last Revised | April 3, 2012 |