Physical examination for autism

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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

Author	Sabra L. Katz-Wise
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Fred Volkmar, MD - Child Psychiatry
Last Updated	June 7, 2006

Last updated:	June 07, 2006
Author:	Sabra L. Katz-Wise
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Fred Volkmar, MD - Child Psychiatry
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman

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