All children develop cognitive and physical abilities at different rates, however there are certain milestones that should be anticipated at certain ages. Cognitive impairment in a child occurs when a child's intellectual capabilities develop considerably below average for a child of her age. The definition of physical impairment is very broad and encompasses many different aspects, however, that too is an area where your child should reach certain milestones.
Significance
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides IQ guidelines for cognitive testing to ensure that your child is developing properly. The guidelines are for eight-year old children. The test determines that mild cognitive damage occurs in a child when the IQ score ranges between 0 to 70; moderate is 35 to 55; severe ranges between 20 to 40, and profound occurs when it registers in below 20.
Causes
Cognitive impairment can result because of many conditions including genetic malfunctions, others can result from illnesses that occur during pregnancy. Malnutrition, poor health care or unintentional exposure to toxins can also play a part in the cognitive impairment of a child, says the Siskin Children's Institute.
Considerations
Some of the cognitive skills that a child should have mastered by his preschool years, according to MayoClinic.com include make-believe play; asking "why" questions; identifying colors and shapes; understanding the differences between morning, afternoon and night; ordering objects in sequence and understands the abstraction of time.
Identification
The North Dakota State University Extension Service publication "Understanding Physical Development in Young Children," indicates two stages of physical development that they deem important: normative and dynamic. Normative development recognizes cultural differences in what a child is expected to accomplish physically. However, normative development still designates specific physical tasks that all children should be able to perform. Dynamic development is characterized by how time and experience connect and interact in all areas of a child's physical behavior.
Types
Professionals use two terms to differentiate the patterns of physical development: gross-motor development and fine-motor development. Gross-motor development would include the ability to run or throw a ball; fine-motor development includes the ability to use a crayon, pick up a spoon or tie her shoe. Facial expressions are also indicated in fine-motor skills. The Parenting and Child Health website says that physical impairments that can hinder the development of these stages would include vision, hearing, speech, muscular dystrophies, brain or spinal injuries, cerebral palsy or spina bifida. The causes of many of these impairments are numerous including inherited or genetic, congenital, or brought on by an illness that affected the brain.
