Community: Developmental Delay Flashcards
What does global developmental delay imply?
Delay in acquisition of all skill fields - gross motor, vision and fine motor, speech and language, social/emotional and behavioural
Global developmental delay usually becomes apparent by what age?
In the first 2 years of life
What is likely to be associated with global developmental delay, but may only become apparent several years later?
Cognitive difficulties
When children become older and the clinical picture is clear what should be done instead of using the term global developmental delay?
Describe the individual difficulties such as learning disability, motor disorder and/ or communication difficultly
For children with abnormal development, the gap between their abilities and what is normal widens with…
Age - so can become more apparent over time
The pattern of abnormal development can be categorised as…
Slow but steady
Plateau effect
Showing regression
Acute regression following acute brain injury with subsequent slow recovery but not to normal levels (partial recovery)
Abnormal development severity can be classified as…
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Profound
What prenatal factors can cause abnormal development and learning difficulty?
Genetic - Chromosome/DNA disorders - Down syndrome, fragile X
Cerebral dysgenesis - microcephaly, absent corpus callosum, hydrocephalus, neuronal migration disorder
Stroke
Metabolic - hypothyroid, PKU
Teratogenic - alcohol and drug abuse
Congenital infection - toxoplasmosis, rubella, CMV, HIV, hep B, HSV, syphilis
Neurodutaneous syndromes - tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis
What perinatal factors can cause abnormal development and learning difficulty?
Extreme prematurity - IVH/PVL
Birth asphyxia - HIE
Metabolic - symptomatic hypoglycaemia, kernicterus
What postnatal factors can cause abnormal development and learning difficulty?
Infection - meningitis, encephalitis
Anoxia - suffocation, near drowning, seizures
Trauma - head injury (accidental or non accidental)
Metabolic - hypoglycaemia, inborn errors of metabolism
Cerebrovascular - stroke
Nutritional deficiency
How may abnormal motor development present?
Delay in acquisition of motor skills - head control, rolling, sitting, standing, walking Problems with balance Abnormal gait Asymmetry of hand use Involuntary movements Rare: loss of motor skills
Concern about motor development usually presents between what age?
3 months a 2 years - acquisition of motor skills occurring most rapidly
What causes of abnormal motor development are there?
Central motor deficit e.g CP
Congenital myopathy/ primary muscle disease
Spinal cord lesion e.g spina bifida
Global developmental delay as in many syndromes
When is hand dominance acquired?
1-2 years
Is asymmetry of motor skills before the first year of life always abnormal?
Yes - May suggest underlying hemiplegia
Do primitive reflexes need to disappear before motor development can progress?
Yes
