Child development Flashcards
What is development?
Global impression of a child which encompasses growth, increase in understanding, acquisition of new skills and more sophisticated responses and behaviour
What are teratogens?
Environmental agents that cause congenital anomalies by interfering with embryonic or fetal organogenesis, growth or cellular physiology or by disrupting previously normal tissue
Give some examples of antenatal teratogens?
Maternal infections
Toxins- e.g. alcohol
Drugs
Give some examples of postnatal teratogens?
Infections e.g. meningitis, encephalitis
Metabolic disorders- hypoglycaemia
Toxins
Trauma
Severe understimulation, maltreatment or domestic violence
Malnutrition especially deficiency of iron, folate and vitamin D
Maternal mental health disorders- most commonly depression
Give some examples of infectious agents that are teratogens ?
Rubella Cytomegalovirus HSV Varicella Toxoplasmosis Syphilis
Give some examples of drugs that are teratogens?
Phenytoin Vaproic acid Trimethadone Lithium SSRIs Amphetamines Warfarin ACE inhibitors Mycophenylate Alcohol
Give some examples of hormones that are teratogens?
Androgenic agents
DES
Maternal diabetes
Maternal obesity
How can maternal diet affect child development?
Lack of folate in the diet can lead to:
Failure of fusion neural tube defects
Anencephaly- failure of rostral defects
Spina bifida- failure of caudal fusion
What are the complications of spina bifida cystica?
Neurogenic bowel incontinence Neurogenic bladder incontinence Lower limb paralysis Fractures Joint contractures Developmental deformities Learning impairment Hydrocephalus -> meningitis
What are the 4 domains of the brain?
Gross motor
Vision and fine motor
Hearing, speech and language
Social, emotional and behavioural
In terms of development, what is a milestone?
Acquisition of a key performance skill
What is the pattern of development like between children?
It remains constant between children but there is variation in rate
In terms of development, what is the median age?
The age when half of a standard population of children achieve that level
In terms of development, what are limit ages?
Age by which they should have achieved= 2 standard deviations from mean
What are the different stages of gross motor and posture development?
New born- limbs flexed, symmetrical posture then marked head lag on pulling up
6-8 weeks- Raised head to 45 degrees in prone
6-8 months- Sits without support
8-9 months- Crawls
10 months- Cruises
12 months- Walks unsteadily (broad gait and hands apart)
15 months- walks steadily
What are primitive reflexes useful for?
Protective and survival value
Promote proper orientation
Promote postural support and balance
Name the primitive reflexes
Stepping Moro Grasp Asymmetric tonic reflex Rooting
What does fine motor and vision assess?
Hand function and hand-eye coordination
What are the stages of fine motor and vision development?
6 weeks- Follows moving object or face by turning head
4 months- Reaches out for toys
4-6 months- Palmar grasp
7 months- Transfers toys from hand to another
10 months- Mature pincer grip
16-18 months- Makes marks with a crayon
14 months-4 years- Complexity of towers that they’re able to build increases
2-5 years- Ability to draw without seeing it done, complexity increases as age increases
What are the stages of development for language and hearing?
Newborn- Startles to sound noises
3-4 months- Vocalises alone or when spoken to, coos and laughs
7 months- Turns to soft sounds out of sight
7-10 months- Sounds used indiscriminately then discriminately to parents
12 months- Two to three words other than dada or mama
18 months- 6-10 words. Show part of the body
20-24 months- Use two or more words to make simple phrases
2.5 yrs-3 years- Talks constantly in 3-4 word sentences
What are the development stages for social behaviour and play?
6 weeks- smiles responsively
6-8 months- Puts food in mouth
10-12 months- Waves bye, plays peek a boo
12 months- Drinks from cup with 2 hands
18 months- Holds spoon and gets food safely to mouth
18-24 months- Symbolic play
2 years- Pulls off clothing
2.5-3 years- Parallel play, interactive play evolving and takes turns
Give a brief breakdown of ages of first steps:
25% by 11 months 50% by 12 months 75% by 13 months 90% by 15 months 97.5% by 18 months
