A nurse is assessing an 8-month-old infant for cerebral palsy. Which of the following findings is a manifestation of the condition?
A.
Can always track an object with eyes
B.
Needs support with pillow props for sitting
C.
Uses a pincer grasp to pick up a toy
D.
Smiles when a parent appears
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B. Needs support with pillow props for sitting.
Explanation:
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect movement, posture, and muscle tone, primarily caused by damage to the developing brain during pregnancy, birth, or shortly after. Assessing an infant for signs of CP involves looking for developmental milestones that may not be met appropriately for their age.
Option A: Can always track an object with eyes.
While visual tracking is a normal developmental milestone, an infant with cerebral palsy may exhibit difficulties with coordination and tracking due to muscle tone issues or visual impairments that can accompany the condition. Therefore, consistent ability to track objects does not indicate CP.
Option B: Needs support with pillow props for sitting.
By 8 months, most infants can sit without support or with minimal assistance. If an infant requires significant support, such as pillows, this suggests a delay in motor skills development, which is a hallmark of cerebral palsy. Infants with CP often struggle with posture and may need help achieving or maintaining sitting positions due to muscle weakness or tone abnormalities.
Option C: Uses a pincer grasp to pick up a toy.
The pincer grasp is typically developed by around 9 to 10 months. An 8-month-old infant may not consistently demonstrate this skill yet. If they are unable to use a pincer grasp, it does not specifically indicate CP; rather, it may suggest a delay in fine motor skills.
Option D: Smiles when a parent appears.
Social interaction, such as smiling in response to a caregiver, is a normal behavior for infants by 8 months and does not indicate any developmental concern.
In summary, the need for support to sit reflects a significant motor skill delay, which aligns with the motor impairments often seen in cerebral palsy. Therefore, Option B is the correct choice, highlighting a critical assessment finding in the context of evaluating for cerebral palsy.