Download Life Span development

AGE GROUPS AND DEVELOPMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS
Infants
Birth to 1 year of age
Toddlers
1 to 3 years of age
Pre-school
3 to 5 years of age
School Age
6 to 12 years of age
Adolescence
13 to 18 years of age
Early Adulthood
19 to 40 years of age
Middle Adulthood
41 to 60 years of age
Late Adulthood
61 ++++
INFANTS
Weight
Generally 6-8 pounds at birth
Lose 5-10% of body weight in week 1
Begin weight gain during week 2
Cardiovascular
Switch's to own vasculatures system
INFANT
Pulmonary System
First Breath inflates lungs for the first time
Under 1 month, nose breathers
Under 6 months, prone to nasal congestion
INFANTS
Pulmonary System
Softer Rib cage
larger Tongue
Shorter,
narrower
airways
Fewer Alveoli
Fragile lungs
INTRODUCTION
Humans evolve over
their life span
Paramedics must
be aware of the
changes that occur a
each stage of life
Paramedics need to
adjust care based on
patient’s life stage.
INFANTS
Renal system
Nervous system
 Consider:
 Continues to evolve
following birth
 Born with:
 Dehydration
 Electrolyte imbalances
Immune system
 Passive immunity helps
protect up to 1 year
 Moro reflex
 Palmar grasp
 Rooting reflex
 Sucking reflex
INFANTS
INFANTS
Musculoskeletal
system
 Growth and epiphyseal
plates help bones grow.
 Muscles account for 25%
of weight.
 Growth charts track
growth.
Dental system
 Teething begins at
4–7 months.
 Baby teeth are in by age
3 years.
 Permanent teeth come in
around
age 6.
INFANTS
Psychosocial
development
begins at birth.
 Evolves as infant
interacts with and
reacts to the
environment
INFANTS
Infants typically have their own timetable for
development.
 Bonding based on a secure attachment
 Anxious avoidant attachment based on rejection
Most infants use crying as the primary method
of communicating distress.
INFANTS
For infants, a reaction to a situational crisis
follows three phases:
Protest phase
Despair phase
Withdrawal
Infants go through trust and mistrust phase.
INFANTS
Children may be:
 Easy
 Difficult
 Slow to warm up
 Let caregiver hold
infants whenever
possible!
TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS
Toddlers are ages 1–
3 years.
Preschoolers are
ages 4–5 years.
Vital signs
 Slower pulse and
respiratory rates than
infants
 Higher systolic blood
pressure
TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS
Cardiovascular system
Similar to adult’s, but lacks well-developed lung
musculature
Immune system
Passive immunity loss leads to acquired
immunity.
TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS
Neuromuscular
system
 Development of gross
and fine motor skills
 Brain weighs 90% of
final adult weight
TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS
Renal system
Begin bladder control
Teething process may be painful and include
fever.
Sensory development makes tickling fun.
TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOL
Psychosocial changes
Separation anxiety peaks.
Language development occurs.
Peer interactions result in:
Learning control, following rules,
competitiveness
Modeling behavior
Recognizing sexual differences
TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOL
Tips for paramedic:
Always include caregiver!
Position yourself at eye level.
Explain what you are going to do.
Save the worst for last.
TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOL
Development is a reflection of parents
Styles:
Authoritarian: expects complete obedience
Authoritative: balances authority with freedom
Permissive: no imposition of rules
Divorce may affect self-esteem and well-being.
SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN
Ages 6–12 years old
Vital signs, physical
body approaching
those of an adult
Grow approximately 4
lbs, 2½″ per year
Puberty may start as
early as 10 years
SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN
Psychosocial changes
Three stages of reasoning
Preconventional: avoid punishment
Conventional: obtain approval
Postconventional: conscience
Self-concept develops
Self-esteem develops
SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN
Tips for paramedics:
Use same techniques as for preschoolers.
Gaining (and losing) trust is a huge issue.
Be direct, assertive, and open!
ADOLESCENTS (TEENAGERS)
Ages 13–17 years
Vital signs level off to
adult ranges.
Growth spurt
Reproductive
changes
 Secondary sex
characteristics
 Hormone secretion
ADOLESCENTS (TEENAGERS)
Psychosocial
changes
 Family conflict related
to:
 Privacy
 Self-consciousness
 Rebelliousness
 Peer pressure
 Self-destructive
behavior
ADOLESCENTS (TEENAGERS)
Tips for
paramedics:
 Provide discretion
and respect to
patients.
 Speak with patient
separately from
caregivers, whenever
possible.
EARLY ADULTS
Ages 18–40 years
Vital signs remain
constant.
Body functions at
optimal level
between ages
19–25.
Accidents are
common cause of
death.
EARLY ADULTS
Psychosocial changes
Work, family, and stress are main focus
Want to “settle down”
Seek and find love
One of the most stable life periods, with less
psychological problems than other stages
MIDDLE ADULTS
Ages 41–60 years.
Physical changes:
 Vision/hearing loss
 Cardiovascular
disease
 Lower metabolism
 Cancer rates increase
 Menopause/bone
density loss, fractures
MIDDLE ADULTS
Psychosocial changes
Focus on meeting life goals
“Empty nest” syndrome
Financial worries related to retirement
May see crisis as a challenge, not a threat
LATE ADULTS
Ages 61+
 Life expectancy
approximately
78 years
Vital signs depend
on:
 Overall health status
 Medical conditions
 Medications
LATE ADULTS
Cardiovascular system
Atherosclerosis leads to blood vessel blockage.
May lead to aneurysms
Hearts are less able to deal with exercise or
disease due to:
Decreased pulse rate
Declining cardiac output
Inability to elevate cardiac output
LATE ADULTS
Cardiovascular system (cont’d)
Vascular system becomes stiff due to:
Increased diastolic blood pressure
Decreased cardiac output
Impeded blood flow
Reduced elasticity of peripheral vessels
Reduced ability to compensate for changes
LATE ADULTS
Respiratory system
Changes make breathing more difficult:
Larger airway; smaller alveoli
Reduced lung elasticity; increased use of
intercostal muscles
Rigid chest as ribs calcify to sternum
Decrease in intercostal muscle strength
LATE ADULTS
Respiratory system (cont’d)
Changes in mouth and nose leave airway less
protected.
Difficult to clear secretions
Cough and gag reflexes decline
Less responsive to smoke and dust due to
decline in cilia
LATE ADULTS
Respiratory system
(cont’d)
 Weakening of smooth
muscles may lead to:
 Collapse
 Inspiratory wheezing
 Low flow rates
LATE ADULTS
Respiratory system (cont’d)
Vital capacity only 50% of younger adult’s
Loss of respiratory muscle mass
Increased stiffness of thoracic cage
Decreased surface area for air exchange
Residual volume increases causing air to
hamper gas exchange in alveoli.
LATE ADULTS
Endocrine system
Diabetes related to weight gain
Males lose penis rigidity; females experience
atrophy of uterus and vagina
LATE ADULTS
Renal system
Functional changes of the kidneys:
Declining filtration function
Decreasing kidney mass
Declining number of nephrons
Decreased response to hemodynamic stress
LATE ADULTS
Gastrointestinal system
Decreased sense of taste, weaker teeth
Decreased saliva production
Slower gastric motility
Diminishing acid secretion
Decreased ability to extract nutrients
Fecal incontinence
LATE ADULTS
Nervous system
Central nervous system changes:
Brain weight loss of 10%–20%
Loss of 5%–50% neurons
Loss of 20% frontal lobe synapses
Slower motor and sensory neural networks
Change to biphasic sleep patterns
LATE ADULTS
Nervous system (cont’d)
 Brains have increased risk for injury.
 Smaller brain may lead to movement.
 Bridging veins may tear.
LATE ADULTS
Nervous system (cont’d)
Peripheral nervous system changes:
Diminished sensation
Diminished proprioception
Deteriorated nerve endings
LATE ADULTS
Sensory changes:
Vision changes
Pupils less responsive to light
Diminished visual acuity
Restricted ocular movement
Increased distortions
Decreased ability to focus at close range
Decreased peripheral vision
LATE ADULTS
Sensory changes (cont’d):
Hearing changes
Loss of high-frequency hearing
Deafness
Loss of taste bud sensation and olfactory
perception
LATE ADULTS
Psychosocial changes
Up until five years preceding death, most late
adults retain high-level brain function
Terminal drop hypothesis
LATE ADULTS
Psychosocial
changes (cont’d)
 95% live at home.
 May live in assisted
living facility
 Financial concerns
related to health care
 Patients face own
mortality
SUMMARY
Developmental stages of life include infant,
toddler, preschool age, school age,
adolescence, early adulthood, middle
adulthood, and late adulthood.
Each developmental stage is marked by different
physical and psychological changes and
characteristics.
The vital signs of toddlers and preschoolers
differ somewhat from those of an infant.
SUMMARY
From ages 6 to 12 years, the school-age child’s
vital signs and body gradually approach those
observed in adulthood.
The vital signs of adolescents begin to level off
within the adult ranges.
Vital signs do not vary greatly through adulthood;
however, the vital signs of late adults do vary
depending on each person’s health.
SUMMARY
Infants develop at a startling rate.
Two important points regarding an infant’s
airway are that an infant’s tongue can more
easily occlude the airway, and the lungs are
fragile.
Infants are classified as an easy child, difficult
child, or slow to warm up. Their primary means
of communication is crying
SUMMARY
Infants develop at a startling rate.
Two important points regarding an infant’s
airway are that an infant’s tongue can more
easily occlude the airway, and the lungs are
fragile.
Infants are classified as an easy child, difficult
child, or slow to warm up. Their primary means
of communication is crying.
SUMMARY
Toddlers and preschoolers learn to speak and
express themselves. Toilet training is usually
accomplished around age 28 months.
A child’s development is affected by the
parenting style employed by his or her parents.
Parenting styles include authoritarian,
authoritative, and permissive.
SUMMARY
School-age children develop self-esteem and
reasoning abilities and receive their
permanent teeth.
Adolescents undergo significant reproductive
development, focus on creating their selfimage, are self-conscious, and may engage in
self-destructive behavior
CREDITS
Unless otherwise indicated, all photographs and illustrations are under copyright of
Jeff Dostalek photography