The nurse is examining a child suspected of having autism. What assessment findings would the nurse expect?

Explanation

•Assessment findings with autism may include social isolation, lack of eye contact, lack of emotional expression, resistance to change, abnormal responses to sensory stimuli, insensitivity to pain, poor speech development, and repetitive movements.

•Autistic disorder is marked by severe deficits in language, perceptual, and motor development, as well as an inability to function in social settings. These problems are evident before the age of 3 years.

•Lower IQs are associated with autism. Only 3% of people with autism spectrum disorders have an above average IQ (>115). Many argue that IQ tests do not measure the full intellectual potential of a child with autism, but rather tell us about their communication and motor deficits.

•A high level of impulsiveness is linked to ADHD.

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