A nurse is caring for a client who has autism spectrum disorder. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A. Reprimand the client about the potential damage that has occurred due to overexercising her body: Reprimanding the client is not a therapeutic approach and may worsen the client's feelings of guilt or shame. It's essential to approach clients with eating disorders with empathy and understanding rather than criticism.

B. Ask the client to agree to talk to a nurse whenever she feels the urge to exercise: Encouraging the client to communicate with a nurse when she feels the urge to exercise is a supportive intervention. This allows the nurse to provide assistance, encouragement, or distraction techniques to help the client cope with the urge in a healthier way.

C. Praise the client for looking at herself in a mirror: Praising the client for looking at herself in a mirror may inadvertently reinforce body image concerns or obsessive behaviors related to appearance. Instead of focusing on the client's appearance, it's important to encourage behaviors and thoughts that promote self-acceptance and body positivity.

D. Restrict the client from being weighed: Restricting the client from being weighed may exacerbate anxiety and control issues related to weight. It's essential to monitor the client's weight as part of their overall health assessment and treatment plan. However, discussions about weight should be conducted sensitively and in collaboration with the client, focusing on health rather than numbers.

Answer: C, D, E

A. The preschooler speaks in three-word sentences.
Speaking in three-word sentences is generally considered developmentally appropriate for a preschooler. By age 3 to 4, children typically use sentences that are more complex, but this is still within a normal range for early language development.

B. The preschooler talks to himself when reading.
Talking to oneself, especially during activities like reading, can be a normal behavior for preschoolers. This self-talk can actually be a part of cognitive development, helping them to process information and reinforce learning, and does not necessarily indicate a need for speech therapy.

C. The preschooler speaks in a nasally tone.
A nasally tone may suggest a speech issue such as a cleft palate or other resonance problems. If the child consistently exhibits this speech pattern, it could indicate a need for further evaluation by a speech therapist to determine the underlying cause and appropriate interventions.

D. The preschooler stutters when speaking.
Stuttering can be a significant speech concern that may require intervention. While some children experience normal disfluencies as they learn to speak, persistent stuttering that interferes with communication is a valid reason to refer the child for speech therapy.

E. The preschooler mispronounces words.
While mispronunciation can occur during language development, consistent or unusual mispronunciations beyond what is typical for the child’s age may indicate a speech sound disorder. If the mispronunciations affect the child's ability to communicate effectively, a referral to a speech therapist would be warranted for assessment and intervention.