Diagnostic Exam Behavioral assessments.

Various guidelines and questionnaires are used to help a doctor determine the specific type of developmental delay a child has. These include: Medical history. Physical assessments and laboratory tests. Physical exam Hearing tests Testing for lead poisoning Chromosomal analysis electroencephalograph (EEG) magnetic resonance image (MRI) Developmental screening tools, such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire or the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), Therapies: Speech and language therapy Visual schedules Sensory integration therapy Applied behavior analysis therapy Social story therapy Vitamin C Vitamin B6 and magnesium Essential fatty acids Picture exchange communication system Casein-free diet Gluten-free diet Vitamin A Treatment Olanzapine (Zyprexa) and other antipsychotic medications are used off-label for the treatment of aggression and other serious behavioral disturbances in children, including children with autism. Off-label means a doctor will prescribe a medication to treat a disorder or in an age group that is not included among those approved by the FDA. Other medications are used to address symptoms or other disorders in children with autism. Fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) are approved by the FDA for children age 7 and older with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Fluoxetine is also approved for children age 8 and older for the treatment of depression. Fluoxetine and sertraline are antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Despite the relative safety and popularity of SSRIs and other antidepressants, some studies have suggested that they may have unintentional effects on some people, especially adolescents and young adults. Nursing Management Private room. Allow/ Encourage family to stay, if they can. Not always possible, but a familiar face who knows the patient could be very valuable. Continuity of care with staffing, and staff with a gift of patience. (Try to have the same nurse, care partners etc., for as long a stretch as possible instead of a new and unfamiliar face each time.) Dietary consult if necessary... The family will know what the patient's food preferences are - does s/he need finger foods, etc.