While planning care for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the nurse encourages the mother to share the child's behavior with the teachers at the child's school. Which statement would the nurse include in the teaching session with the parent?

Question

A) "The teacher should know that your child may experience depression that results from feelings of inadequacy."
B) "The teacher should know that your child may experience an episode of self-mutilation."
C) "The teacher should know that your child will have a tendency to be hypoactive."
D) "The teacher should know that your child will be very flexible and will have the ability to contribute to his or her learning."

Answer 1

Answer: B

Some children with a spectrum disorder have many associated behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, aggressiveness, temper tantrums, and self-injurious behaviors such as head banging. This is important and relevant to discuss with the child's teacher, who is a member of the treatment team. Problems with socialization and communication difficulties are also common, evidenced by deficits in spontaneous, imaginative play. These children typically have a restricted, repetitive repertoire of interests or behaviors, and therefore will not become depressed due to perceiving themselves as inadequate. These children will have difficulty adapting to change, so they will have great difficulty, if able at all, to be flexible or contribute to their learning. The child's tendency would be toward hyperactivity rather than hypoactivity.