Developmental Delay Flashcards
What is hypotonia?
Reduced resistance to passive range of motion.
Can hypotonia be present without muscle weakness?
Yes
What scale can be used to assess hypermobility?
Beighton scale
What causes Down Syndrome?
A faulty cell division in the 21st pair of chromosomes, resulting in 47 chromosomes
What is the prevalence of Down Syndrome in Australia?
1 in 1100 births
How is prenatal screening for Down Syndrome done?
Ultrasound examination allows an estimate of the risk by assessing the skin folds at the back of the neck
What are the common characteristics of Down Syndrome?
- Low muscle tone (hypotonia) and ligamentous laxity (hypermobility)
- Cognitive impairment
- Congenital heart disease
- Hearing impairments
- Visual deficit
- Seizures
- Obesity
- Hypothyroidism
- Atlantoaxial instability
What motor development issues are had with Down Syndrome?
- Delayed gross motor development
- Difficulties with postural control and balance
- Requires more time to learn movements as complexity increases
- Slower reaction times during movement
- Reduced strength
What other aspects of development are delayed with Down Syndrome?
- Oral motor and feeding
- Speech and language
- Fine motor
- Social and behavioural
What are common musculoskeletal issues associated with Down Syndrome?
- Shorter stature with decreased length in long bones
- Atlantoaxial instability
- Recurrent dislocations of the patella and occasionally hip
- Mild to moderate scoliosis
How is atlantoaxial instability diagnosed? How old must the child be?
An x-ray of the cervical spine is taken to measure excessive movement of C1/C2 during flexion and extension.
Child must be at least three years of age.
