Page 1119 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

a. Lack of, impaired, or abnormal speech,
such as producing a monotone voice or
echolalia
b. Abnormal nonverbal communication
(does not use gestures to
communicate)
3. Behavior
a. Lack of imaginative play
b. Persistent preoccupation or attachment
to objects; range of interests restricted
c. Self-injurious behaviors
d. Must maintain routine; any
environmental change produces
marked distress
e. Produces repetitive body movements
such as rocking or head banging
C. Interventions
1. Determine the child’s routines, habits, and preferences
and maintain consistency as much as possible.
2. Determine the specific ways in which the child
communicates and use these methods.

3. Avoid placing demands on the child.

4. Implement safety precautions as necessary for

self-injurious behaviors such as head banging.
5. Initiate referrals to special programs as required.
6. Provide support to parents.
7. The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers—
Revised (MCHAT-R) is used to screen toddlers for
this disorder. For a copy of the tool, see
https://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/docs/sciencedocs/m-
chat/m-chat-r_f.pdf?v=1

Ensuring a safe environment for a child with autism is a

priority.
XI. Intellectual Disability
A. Description
1. In intellectual disability, a child manifests subaverage
intellectual functioning along with deficits in adaptive
skills.
2. Down’s syndrome is a congenital condition that
results in moderate to severe intellectual disabilities
and has been linked to an extra group G chromosome,
chromosome 21 (trisomy 21).

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