MBBS OSCE · General Medicine
OSCE — Autism Spectrum Disorder
Eight-minute OSCE station on Autism Spectrum Disorder: focused history, examination priorities, investigations, emergency and definitive management.
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Brief (to candidate)
You will assess a patient with a presentation consistent with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
You have 8 minutes to take a focused history, outline examination, investigations, and management including red flags.
Clinical context
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined in DSM-5 and ICD-11 by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts (the three sub-domains of social-emotional reciprocity, nonverbal communicative behaviour, and relationships) PLUS restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities (at least 2 of 4: stereotyped/repetitive movements, speech or object use; insistence on sameness/rituals; restricted interests of abnormal intensity; and hyper- or hypo-reactive sensory behaviour). Onset is in the early developmental period, the symptoms are present across contexts, and they cause clinically significant functi
Candidate tasks
- Clarify onset, severity, associated features, and red-flag symptoms.
- State focused examination priorities.
- List first-line investigations and any named score/criteria.
- Give immediate resuscitation steps.
- Outline definitive management with doses/routes where standard.
- Name complications and disposition (ward / HDU / theatre / discharge safety-net).
- Mention one special-population modifier (pregnancy, child, elderly, CKD).
Examiner checklist
| Domain | Pass behaviours |
|---|---|
| Definition | Correct working diagnosis language |
| Assessment | Focused, prioritised, red flags sought |
| Investigations | Appropriate first-line + interpretation |
| Emergency care | ABC / time-critical actions first |
| Definitive care | Specific drugs/procedures, not generic phrases |
| Safety | Toddler with delayed speech, poor eye contact, not responding to name, no pointi |
| Safety | Loss of previously acquired language or social skills (regression) at 15 to 24 m |
| Safety | Child with ASD and new-onset seizures - epilepsy common (20 to 30 percent); EEG |
| Communication | Clear plan and safety-netting |
Model outline
Lead with the working diagnosis and life threats. Resuscitate before definitive tests when unstable. Use guideline-standard therapy with named agents and doses. Document escalation criteria and follow-up. A safe candidate is specific, structured, and never delays critical care for non-urgent imaging.