52 chapter 6
GUIDE FOR IDENTIFYING DISABILITIES
SIGNS PRESENT AT OR SOON AFTER BIRTH
IF THE CHILD HAS THIS
AND ALSO THIS
born weak or
‘floppy’
••••
often a difficult birth
delayed breathing
born blue and limp
or born before 9 months and very small
HE MAY HAVE
••
cerebral palsy
developmental delay
SEE PAGE
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slow to begin
to lift head or
move arms
does not suck
well or chokes
on milk or
food
one or both
feet turned
in or back
‘bag or dark
lump on
back
head too
big; keeps
growing
•••
round face
slant eyes
thick tongue
small head,
or small top
part of head
none of above
••
pushes milk back out with tongue
or will not suck
••
cannot suck well
chokes or milk comes out nose
no other signs
• hands weak, stiff or
•
clubbed
some joints stiff, in bent
or straight positions
dark lump on back
••
clubbed feet
or feet bend
•
up too far
or feet lack movement and feeling
may develop:
• eyes like
•
‘setting sun’
increasing mental
and/or physical disability
• blindness
••
Down syndrome
hypothyroidism
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microcephalia (small
brain) mental slowness
developmental delay for
other reasons
cerebral palsy
• check for cleft palate
• possibly severe mental slowness
club foot
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arthrogryposis
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spina bifida
spina bifida
(sometimes no ‘bag’ is
seen, but foot signs may
be present)
hydrocephalus (water on
the brain)
At birth, this is usually
a sign of spina bifida.
in an older child,
possibly tapeworm in
brain, or a brain tumor
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WTND
143
upper lip and/or
roof of mouth
incomplete
• difficulty feeding
• later, speech difficulties
cleft lip (hare lip)
and cleft palate
120
birth deformities,
defects, or missing
parts
abnormal stiffness
or position
(may or may not be associated with
other problems)
••••
from birth
some muscles weak
some joints stiff
head control and mind normal
• Muscles tighten more in certain
•
positions.
may grip thumb tightly
See
••
••
birth defects
amputations
Down syndrome
developmental delay
arthrogryposis
spastic cerebral palsy
Note: muscle tightness
(spasticity) usually
does not appear until
weeks or months after
birth.
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Disabled village Children