Evaluating for Abuse in a Child with a Disability
Preparing to See the Patient
- Obtain IEP or other documentation of level of functioning
- Ask parent how they tolerate physical exams
- Ask about aids to help with exam
- Ask about who should accompany the child/adolescent during the exam
- Assess whether accessible equipment is necessary
- The visit should have extra time allotted
Accessible Version
Before seeing a child with a disability, it is important to gain information about the patient that can help you successfully perform a physical exam in the least traumatic way possible.
You should obtain the patient’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP). The IEP tells what the goals and accommodations in school are. This and other documentation can give you knowledge of the level of functioning of the patient.
You should ask the parent how the patient usually tolerates physical exams and ask about any aids to help with exam. Examples of aids for the exam may be a phone or iPad, a transition object that is comforting to the patient, or music. It is also important to ask who would be the best person or people to have in the room with you to support the patient during the exam. Patients with different disabilities may also need accessible equipment, extra time for transferring or communicating, or modifications to exams.
Also, extra time should be allotted for the visit.
