The nurse is caring for a patient with an autistic disorder. Upon assessment the nurse records that the child has a labile mood. Which of the following symptoms suggest a labile mood?

Explanation

•Children with autistic disorders often have a labile mood. They also may react with over responsiveness to sensory stimuli, such as light or sound.

•The impairment in communication is shown in both verbal and nonverbal skills. Language may be totally absent. If a child does speak, grammatical structure may be impaired, such as the use of “you” when “I” is intended.

•Autistic children also commonly have an inability to name objects and abnormal speech melody.

•Echolalia, or repetitive words or phrases spoken by others, may also be present.

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