RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2023
Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)
Easy
Autism can usually be diagnosed when the child is about
Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2023
Explanation
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and the presence of restricted, repetitive behaviors.
- According to psychiatric literature, ASD is typically evident during the second year of life, making a diagnosis at 2 years of age common and reliable.
- Parental concerns often arise between 12 to 18 months due to delayed language or social skills, leading to formal evaluation and diagnosis around the 2-year mark.
- This age aligns with the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation for universal autism screening at 18 and 24 months.
- Early diagnosis around age 2 is critical because it allows for the initiation of early intervention services, which can significantly improve developmental outcomes.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: A diagnosis at 1 month is not possible. The complex social, communicative, and behavioral patterns required for an ASD diagnosis have not yet emerged in a one-month-old infant.
- Option B: Similar to the 1-month option, 2 months is too early for a reliable ASD diagnosis. While an infant may show early signs like lack of a social smile, these are not specific enough to diagnose ASD.
- Option D: While a diagnosis can occur at 14 years, especially in individuals with milder symptoms (formerly Asperger's), it is not the usual or recommended time. The primary goal is early detection to maximize the benefits of intervention.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Typical age for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Nurses in pediatric and community health settings are on the front line of developmental surveillance. They must be proficient in using screening tools and educating parents about developmental milestones and red flags for ASD.
- A key nursing role is to provide empathetic support and clear information to families who receive an ASD diagnosis, guiding them toward resources and early intervention services.
- What if? If a parent expresses concern about their 12-month-old not babbling or pointing, the nurse should take it seriously. The correct action is to perform a developmental screening, provide anticipatory guidance on stimulating communication, and schedule a follow-up for the 18-month check-up to re-evaluate, rather than adopting a 'wait and see' approach.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the keyword 'usually' in the question stem. This indicates you are looking for the most common or standard time frame, not an exceptional case.
- Next, analyze the core concept: the diagnosis of Autism. This is a neurodevelopmental disorder, so think about when developmental delays become noticeable.
- Evaluate the options. 1 and 2 months are very early in infancy; complex social behaviors are not yet expected. 14 years is adolescence; while diagnosis can happen, it would be considered a late diagnosis.
- Recall that standard pediatric practice includes specific developmental screenings. The well-child visits at 18 and 24 months are key checkpoints for social and communication skills.
- Conclude that 2 years is the most logical answer, as it aligns with the time that developmental differences are clear enough for reliable diagnosis and when routine screenings are performed.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Typical age for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis
- Stem keywords: Autism, diagnosed, child
- Lead-in keywords: usually
- Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
Question ID
Q8B5k0ZSNHDzR393eB0PRD
Reference Book
E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 391-393
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 12071-12073
Practise the full RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2023
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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