A Child's Journey Flashcards
What are the recognised phases of childhood?
Neonate (<4w) Infant (<12m/1y) Toddler (~1-2y) Pre-school (~2-5y) School age Teenager/Adolescent
What are the main childhood objectives?
To grow To develop and achieve their potential To attain optimal health To develop independence To be safe To be cared for To be involved
What are the cellular stages of development?
Cell growth, migration, connection, pruning, and myelination (Use it or lose it)
What are the key developmental fields?
- Gross Motor
- Fine Motor
- Social and Self Help
- Speech and Language
- Hearing and Vision
What factors influence development?
Genetics (Family, race, gender) Environment Positive early childhood experience Developing brain vulnerable to insults -Antenatal -Post natal -Abuse and neglect
What are some antenatal adverse environments?
IInfections (CMV, Rubella, Toxoplasmosis, VZV)
Toxins (Alcohol, Smoking, Anti-epileptics)
What are some postnatal adverse environments?
Infection (Meningitis, encephalitis)
Toxins (solvents mercury, lead)
Trauma (Head injuries)
Malnutrition (iron, folate, vit D)
Metabolic (Hypoglycaemia, hyper + hyponatraemia)
Maltreatment/under stimulation/domestic violence
Maternal mental health issues
Why is assessing development important?
Reassurance and showing progress
Early diagnosis and intervention
Discuss positive stimulation/parenting strategies
Provision of information
Improving outcomes (pre-school years critical)
Genetic counselling
Coexistent health issues
What is the Healthy Child Programme (HCP) UK?
An evidence-based framework for the delivery of public health services to families with a child between conception and age 5
What is a simplified way of looking at child development?
How do they move their body around?
What do they do with their hands?
How do they communicate?
What can they do for themselves?
How may you decide what is normal?
Think about each developmental field (deficiency may predominantly affect one area)
What sequence/ pattern has come before?
What skills have been achieved?
What has not yet been achieved?
Is one field falling behind the other? - Global delay v.s. specific developmental delay
Are the skills gained age appropriate?
How may normal variation in development present?
Early developers Late normal Bottom shufflers- walking delay Bilingual families- apparent language delay (total words may be normal) Familial traits
What are red flags?
- Loss of developmental skills
- Parental/professional concern re. vision (simultaneous referral to paediatric ophthalmology)
- Hearing loss (simultaneous referral for audiology/ ENT)
- Persistent low muscle tone/floppiness
- No speech by 18 months, esp if no other communication (simultaneous referral for urgent hearing test)
- Asymmetry of movements/increased muscle tone
- Not walking by 18m/Persistent toe walking
- OFC > 99.6th/< 0.4th/crossed two centiles/disproportionate to parental OFC
- Clinician uncertain/thinks that development may be disordered
How is child health screened for?
- UK - Healthy Child Programme
- Child Health Programme (Scotland) based on HAL4
- Based in primary care (GP, HV, MW)
- Parental (carer) observations and concerns crucial
What is the structure of the Child Health Programme?
New-born exam and blood spot screening* New-born hearing screening (by Day 28) Health Visitor First Visit 6-8w Review (Max 12w) 27-30 month Review (Max 32m) Orthoptist vision screening (4-5y) If needed: -Unscheduled review -Recall review
