17.7k views
2 votes
Parents express alarm that their 3-month-old infant, born at 30 weeks of gestation, will grasp a rattle briefly if it is put in her hands, but she does not look at it or play with it. how should the nurse interpret this behaviour?

a. the expectation of ability to hold a rattle reflects normal development for a typical 3-month-old
b. this observation reflects a significant developmental lag for this infant
c. this observation reflects a slightly delayed but normal development caused by prematurity
d. this observation is suggestive of a worrisome neurological disorder such as cerebral palsy

User Codrut
by
8.6k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The observation that a 3-month-old preterm infant grasps but does not show interest in a rattle is likely reflective of normal development adjusted for prematurity, and not necessarily indicative of developmental delays or neurological disorders. The correct option is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the behavior of a 3-month-old infant born at 30 weeks of gestation, it is important to adjust expectations for physical and cognitive development based on prematurity.

The fact that the infant will briefly grasp a rattle when placed in their hand is indicative of the presence of the grasping reflex, which is already present at birth.

However, not looking at or playing with the rattle does not necessarily point to a developmental delay at this stage, considering the child's adjusted age. Infants' vision is the least developed sense at birth, and given the prematurity, this infant's vision might still be maturing.

Thus, the interpretation of this observation should be that it reflects a slightly delayed but normal development caused by prematurity (option C).

Cognitive abilities, such as understanding that objects exist and have properties, develop as children mature and interact with their environment.

While a full-term 3-month-old might show more interest in a rattle, the developmental milestones for premature infants must account for their earlier birth.

At their corrected age (i.e., adjusting their chronological age by how premature they were), their behaviors might be perfectly normal.

Cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders would typically present with more persistent and concerning signs than simply not looking at or interacting with a rattle, so there is no immediate suggestion of such disorders based solely on this observation. The correct option is A.

User Yuan Chen
by
8.4k points