Autism Spectrum Disorders Health Center

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.