Puberty and adolescence

Question 1

What is the acronym for points to cover with an adolescent?

Answer 1

HEAADSSS

Question 2

What does HEAADSSS stand for?

Answer 2

H - home life/parental + sibling relationships
E - education, employment (inc. financial issues
A - affect (mood)
A - activities - sports, hobbies, friendships
D - drug use, inc. smoking/alcohol
S - sex
S - suicide, depression, self-harm
S - sleep

Question 3

What is the first sign of puberty in girls?

Answer 3

Breast development

Question 4

What is the normal range of onset of puberty in girls?

Answer 4

8.5-12.5 y/o

Question 5

What are the other signs of puberty in girls?

Answer 5

Breast development
Pubic hair growth
Growth spurt
Menarche

Question 6

What does menarche mark?

Answer 6

The end of growth - girls only grow on average a further 5cm after the onset of menarche

Question 7

When does menarche tend to occur?

Answer 7

Occurs on average 2.5 years after the onset of puberty

Question 8

What are the features of puberty in boys?

Answer 8

Testicular enlargement
Pubic hair growth
Growth spurt

Question 9

When does the growth spurt in boys tend to occur?

Answer 9

When testicular volume is at 12-15ml, after a delay of around 18 months

Question 10

What % does the pubertal growth spurt add to a child’s height?

Answer 10

15%

Question 11

How is puberty measured?

Answer 11

Using Tanner scales - there are 3 scales for breast, male genitalia and pubic hair development

Question 12

When is puberty considered precocious in girls, and in boys?

Answer 12

Girls = before 8 y/o
Boys = before 9 y/o

Question 13

When is puberty considered delayed in girls, and in boys?

Answer 13

Girls = after 14 y/o
Boys = after 15 y/o