Child development

Question 1

What is child growth and development?

Answer 1

The biological, psychological, physical and emotional changes that occurs in humans as they progress from dependence to autonomy to maturity.

The continuous process of functional and physiological maturation
It occurs in a cephalo-caudal direction

Question 2

List the factors that affect development and growth in children.

Answer 2

Health
Nutrition 
Genetics 
Enviromental factors 
Family and attachment

Question 3

List the factors that causes developmental and growth difficulties in children.

Answer 3

Prematurity 
Chronic illness 
Vitamin D deficiency 
Lack of stimulation 
Toxins 
Iron defieciency

Question 4

Define developmental delay and impairment

Answer 4

A failure to acquire expected skill

Impairment is when delay is so significant it is more likely that delay to be lifelong

Question 5

Define milestones

Answer 5

Attainment of an ability or skill by most children by a certain age

Question 6

Define red flags/warning signs

Answer 6

Concerns that may point to something significant

Question 7

Give/list examples of warning signs at different ages/points of childhood

Answer 7

At any age; parental concerns, loosing weight, decreasing or increasing head circumference disproportionately to other growth parameters
10 weeks; No social smile
6 months; Persistent primitive reflexes, no interest in people
12 months; No pincer grasp
18 months; Not walking, no words, drooling
2 years; No phrases, not interactive
4 years; unintelligible speech

Question 8

What are the 4 domains of development?

Answer 8

Gross motor
Fine motor
Language
Social interactive skills and play

Question 9

How is growth assessed?

Answer 9

Weight - a good assessment of health and nutrition status

Height - indicates skeletal growth

Head circumference - indicates brain growth and development of intracranial volume

BMI

Question 10

How is development assessed?

Answer 10

Health visits, GPs - the red book
Clinical evaluation

Development assessments, e.g. Bailey’s, Griffiths, WISC

Question 11

Give examples of drugs used in neurodevelopment disorders (and which disorder)

Answer 11

Medications for ADHD: medikinet (aka methylphenidate)

Medications for anxiety: Propanolol, sertraline

Question 12

Give examples of drugs used for sleep for children

Answer 12

melatonin, clonidine