Tips for proper neurodevelopment in childhood

Crucial phase! Child development is a process that begins with the formation of the baby in the first weeks of life in the womb, where it begins to form
the brain around the third week of pregnancy and continues to mature dynamically and crucially during the first 5 years of life.

Thanks to the interaction with the environment, during this time, the child’s nervous system matures, and thus the development of his brain functions and personality.

During this period, follow-up follows regular and periodic It allows the doctor to detect early warning signs that could affect their normal evolution, cause consequences and prevent the child from reaching the maximum potential of his capacities and abilities as a human being and society as a whole.

A neurodevelopmental assessment is performed at each clinic visit. pediatrician from the newborn, but sensitive moments for timely assessment are: at 3 months, 9 months, 18 months and 36 months, according to Dr. Milene Mc Lenan, pediatrician specializing in neurodevelopment at Paitilla Hospital.

“This has to do with moments acquiring skills it must be developed: motor skills, sensitivity, language,” he adds.

Red flags will depend on each child and must be evaluated individually.

“More than a specific achievement, the doctor seeks to determine whether the goal has been achieved. proper sequence events in time,” he says.

Different signs that the doctor will assessbased on the developmental skills expected of a child at a certain age.

For example, use Gesell scale, which determines the degree of development of the child’s behavior in different areas.

In addition, there are other scales and assessments for screening and timely diagnosis.

Some parameters that allow us to identify relevant changes in neurodevelopment, such as failure to progress at a certain age, asymmetric development of movement, tone or reflexes, loss of previously acquired skills and poor social interaction and psycho-affectiveness.

Measurement head circumference (head diameter) is also a measure that is assessed at each follow-up visit until the second year of life and gives us information about how the brain is growing. Smaller or larger measurements for age are a sign of serious concern.

In the first 3 months of life, sensory development, adequate response to visual and auditory stimuli should be assessed.

alterations

The most common neurodevelopmental disorders are: global developmental delay, which occurs when more than 2 areas of development are affected (eg language and fine motor skills); Autistic spectrum disorder; and speech and language disorder.

Actions for the comprehensive management of these children must be interdisciplinary way, led by a pediatrician and uniting different specialties (neurology, otorhinolaryngology, child psychiatry) and groups of therapists: occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, early stimulation, psychology, etc.