E X AMINATION
RECORDS OF FACTORS POSSIBLY AFFECTING CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(mainly for children with possible brain damage or developmental delay)
Added history
RECORD
SHEET
4
Was the child born before 9 months?_ _______ at how many months?_ ___________________________
Was the child born smaller or thinner than normal?_ _________ weight at birth?____________________
Was the birth of the child normal?__________ slow or difficult?_ _________________________________
Explain:_ ______________________________________________________________________________
Did the child seem normal at birth?__________ If not, describe problems: delayed breathing?_ ______
very floppy?_________ other?______________________________________________________________
Did the mother have problems in pregnancy?_ ____German measles_______ at_________months.
Other?_ _________________ Medicines or drugs during pregnancy:_ ____ What?________________
Age of mother_ __________ and father____________at time of child’s birth.
41
Physical exam
Does the child show signs of brain damage? (Use RECORD SHEETS 3 and 4.)
What?_________________________________________________________________________________
Does the child show signs of Down syndrome?_______________________________________________
What? (wide, slanted eyes _______ , crease in hand ______ , other _ _____ . See p. 279.)
Other physical signs, possibly related to mental slowness ______________________________________
Does the child’s head seem smaller_______ or larger _________ than normal?
Distance around head?__________________ cm. Difference from normal__________________ cm.
Average at her age (from chart)________________ cm. Difference from average _ _____________ cm.
Record of the child’s head size
On the chart put a
dot where the up-
and-down line of the
child’s age crosses the
sideways line of her
head size:
Measure around
the widest part of
the head.
If the dot is below
the shaded area the
head is smaller than
normal. The child may
be microcephalic
(small-brained, see p. 278).
If the dot falls above the
shaded area, the head
is bigger than normal.
The child may have
hydrocephalus (see p. 169).
Note: Boys’ heads average from 1/2 to 1 cm. larger than
girls’ heads. Also head size may vary somewhat with
different races. If possible get local charts.
Use the chart for a continuing record. Every month put a new dot on the chart.* If the difference
from normal increases, the problem is more likely to be serious. For example,
Brain not
growing much.
Probably
microcephalic.
Brain growing
well. Probably
not serious.
Head too big;
growing fast.
Hydrocephalus
or tumor.
Getting worse.
Large head.
Probably not
a problem.
* Filling out this chart every month is especially important for children with spina bifida or suspected
hydrocephalus (see p. 169). If you do not know how to use the chart, ask a local schoolteacher.
disabled village children