Emotional and Behavioural Flashcards
When is attachment to primary care givers most prominent?
6 - 36 months
When does stranger anxiety begin to develop?
9 months
What is the main/only management of anxiety a toddler has?
Seeking proximity to an attachment figure
When is bruising in a baby particularly concerning? at what age?
In non-mobile infants - there is a tiny % when bruising is accidental at this age
What should happen if a baby has a bruise?
Perform a skeletal assessment, full history and examination
When is it more common to see a bruise on a baby?
When they are mobile
If a child has lots of bruising, which blood tests are performed to check for certain disorders?
Von willibrand disorder
What type of bruising is more concerning on children?
Bruising that isn’t on bony prominences; head/face/cheek/inside thigh or arm/genitalia
If the bruising has a shape/pattern - hand, belt
Number of bruises
What are the differential diagnoses for bruising?
- Meningococcal sepsis
- Bleeding disorder
- Drugs
- Birth marks
- Dirt/dyes
Other than abuse/trauma, what are the other causes of fractures in children/babies? (3)
- Premature
- Rickets
- Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones)
What are the features of abuse associated with burns?
- Delayed presentation
2. Saying it didn’t hurt
What are the features of ‘shaken baby syndrome’ now known as non-accidental head injury or abusive head trauma?
- Subdural bleeds (brain)
- Retinal bleeds (eye)
- Rib fractures
- Long bone fractures
- Brain injury
Apart from fractures/burns/bruising, what are other signs/symptoms of abuse/neglect?
- Dental caries
- Severe recurrent nits
- Sunburn
- Leaving child alone
- Overdose Calpol/medication
- Cold/hungry/thin/grubby
What is attachment?
Describes the relationship between a caregiver and a child - it is a process of proximity seeking to an identified attachment figure in situations of perceived distress or alarm for the purpose of survival
What are the features of attachment behaviour?
Proximity seeking to attachment figure, especially when threatened. Permanent separation e.g. bereavement, affects capacity to feel secure and explore.
What are the 4 classifications of attachment style?
- Insecure avoidant
- Secure
- Insecure ambivalent
- Disorganised
What does separation behaviour represent?
Temperament of the child
What does the behaviour upon reunion represent?
The attachment relationship
What will happen with a secure attachment on reunion?
Comforted by the caregiver, seeks proximity with them immediately and distressed beforehand.
How may an insecure ambivalent attachment present?
Seeking proximity but then wriggling away, not reading immediately to caregiver re-entering room
Why might some children have insecure attachments?
They are used to being left alone, learnt that crying does not work. The care provided by the caregiver is unpredictable; sometimes they should care/support but other times not.
This can be influenced by caregivers health and wellbeing - mental health, under the influence of drugs, distractions
What does disorganised attachment refer to?
Children experiencing some form of abuse by their caregiver
What is secure attachment linked to - in terms of outcomes as children get older?
Secure attachment linked to better behavioural and academic outcomes in childhood. Attachment relationships form basis of working models of future relationships. These models can be updated by later experience, but are fairly stable over time.
What is autistic spectrum disorder (ASD)?
A lifelong developmental disorder - three main areas of difficulty.
- Social interaction
- Communication
- Rigidity of thinking (+ sensory processing difficulties)
How many people are affected by ASD?
1 in 100
Which gender is ASD more common in?
Males
From what age must signs/symptoms of ASD be present in order for it to be diagnosed as such?
Before 36 months old
What are the symptoms of ASD? (5)
- No eye contact
- Rarely seek physical contact
- Difficult peer relationships
- Behaviour not modulated by context (e.g. being quiet in a library or in a church - child with ASD can’t emphasise with the situation to alter behaviour appropriately)
- Aloof
What kind of conversation difficulties may people with ASD have? (4)
- Literal understanding of language
- Overly formal conversation
- Talking at length about their own interests
- Find it difficult to use or understand facial expressions or tone of voice, jokes and sarcasm