Normal Development

Question 1

what is IQ a measure of and who developed this?

Answer 1

IQ = mental age (MA)/chronological age (CA)

developed by Stern and Kuhlma

Question 2

what 3 factors influence normal child development?

Answer 2

genetic
nutritional - determines extent to which genetic determinant can be achieved
environmental

Question 3

how does nutrition affect development?

Answer 3

mother’s nutrition can affect placenta which has an effect on foetus
malnutrition after birth can damage brain cells

Question 4

how can environmental factors affect development?

Answer 4

alcohol, smoking etc can cause damaging intra-uterine environment
lack of care, stimulation etc after birth can affect development

Question 5

what defines a new stage in development?

Answer 5

when a new skill is developed

Question 6

what are the 2 age ranges for developmental milestone?

Answer 6

median age = age when 50% of population of children achieve a skill
limit age = age when skill should have been acquired by 97.5 of the population of children (2 standard deviations)

Question 7

what is the significance of the limit age?

Answer 7

if skill has not developed by the limit age for that particular skill, might want to be seen by a doctor

Question 8

how strict are normal milestones?

Answer 8

not always completely strict

can have normal variations

Question 9

what is required for development of a skill?

Answer 9

opportunity for practice

maturation of nervous system

Question 10

how does the pattern of development vary amongst children?

Answer 10

sequence should be the same in all children

however rate can vary

Question 11

in what direction does motor development progress?

Answer 11

cephalocaudal direction (from head downwards and outwards to fine finger control)
generalised mass activity/development of synapses which changes to more specific controlled movements

Question 12

what are the 4 areas of development?

Answer 12

gross motor
fine motor and vision
language and hearing
social behaviour and play

Question 13

how do the areas of development interact?

Answer 13

while one area is progressing quickly (e.g walking) the other areas may be slightly slower (e.g not much speech development) but this will catch up once walking development has slowed

Question 14

what are the milestones in gross motor development?

Answer 14

head control = 3 months
sitting balance = 6 months
crawling = 9 months
standing = 12 months
running = 18 months
stairs (2 feet/tread) = 24 months
stairs (alternate feet) = 36 months
hopping = 48 months

Question 15

what primitive reflexes are present in newborns?

Answer 15

sucking and rooting
palmar and plantar grasp
ATNR (must be lost once conscious movement development - at 3-4 months)
Moro
stepping and placing

Question 16

what is the parachute reflex?

Answer 16

develop at 5-7 months to protect from toppling over while sitting
puts a hand down to balance

Question 17

what is the limit age for walking?

Answer 17

18 months

if not walking at 18 months - should be referred

Question 18

what are the milestones for fine motor and vision development?

Answer 18

hand regard in midline = 3 months
grasps toy - palmar = 6 months
scissor grasp = 9 months
pincer grip = 12 months
points with index finger = 12 months
tower of 3-4 bricks = 18 months
tower of 6-7 bricks/scribbling = 24 months
tower of 9 bricks/copies a circle drawing = 36 months
draws a simple man = 48 months

Question 19

what is the danger with the development of finer grip?

Answer 19

child can pick up small objects/tablets which can cause choking, poisoning etc

Question 20

how does writing ability develop?

Answer 20

make mark with pencil = 14 months
scribbling = 15 months
imitate vertical or circular strokes = 24 months
copy circle = 36 months
copy cross = 48 months
copy square = 54 months
copy triangle = 60 months
grip changes from palmar to more pincer like

Question 21

what are the milestones for speech and hearing?

Answer 21

vocalise = 3 months
babbles = 6 months
imitates sound = 9 months
knows name = 12 months
2 body parts/5-20 words = 18 months
simple instructions/50+ words = 24 months
complex instructions/asks questions = 36 months
can tell stories of experience = 48 months
very wide range of normal however

Question 22

at what age should a child know 2 body parts?

Answer 22

23 months

Question 23

what are the milestones in social behaviour and play?

Answer 23

social smile = 6 weeks
pleasure on friendly handling = 3 months
plays with feet/friendly with strangers = 6 months
plays peek a boo/stranger awareness = 9 months
drinks from a cup/waves bye bye = 12 months
feeds with a spoon = 18 months
symbolic play/puts on some clothes = 2 years
pretend interactive play/toilet trained = 3 years
understands turn-taking/dresses fully = 4 years