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Helpful Hints for Examining Young Children
Obtaining an accurate physical examination of
an infant or child can be intimidating for an inexperienced student or
physician. Students may find the
following hints helpful in learning the skills needed to examine a young child1:
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Avoid predictable conflicts if at all possible (e.g., separating a child from his mother).
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Alter your body language (voice, gaze, touch) to become as nonthreatening as possible.
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Maximize a child's cognitive ability and achievements to familiarize him with you and your procedures (e.g., if a child has appreciation of object permanence, you can play peek-a-boo or play at hiding one of your instruments).
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Maximize what a child enjoys doing to distract him (e.g., a child who enjoys manipulating small objects may be handed some colorful blocks while you listen to his chest).
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Avoid repetition of previous frightening medical experiences if at all possible or defer them to the end of the encounter.
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Make parents your ally (e.g. have the toddler's parent participate in the exam by holding the child in his lap and helping with distraction or play while you proceed).
1 ALGRANATI, P.S., The Pediatric Patient. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland. 1992