Autistic behavior

Home care:

Home care depends on the cause of the behavior. The child's safety needs must always be considered.

Call your health care provider if:

• your child exhibits autistic behavior, and the child is not known to be autistic.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting autistic behavior in detail may include:

• time pattern
  • When did you first notice this behavior?
  • Is it a new behavior for this child?
  • Does the child consistently behave in this manner, or does the behavior come and go?
  • Does the behavior seem to be related to any event that you've noticed?

• quality
  • What specific behaviors have you noticed?
  • Have you noticed any pattern to the behavior?

• family history
  • Has any family member been diagnosed with autism?

• other
  • What other symptoms are also present?

The physical examination may include a complete examination of the nervous system. A psychological evaluation may be recommended. If a physical cause is suspected, diagnostic tests may be performed including laboratory tests, X-rays, and others. The specific tests will depend on the suspected cause.

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to autistic behavior to your personal medical record.