Domain 13. Growth-development
Class 2. Development
Diagnostic Code: 00315
Nanda label: Delayed infant motor development
Diagnostic focus: Motor development
Delayed infant motor development is a nursing diagnosis that indicates the development of an infant’s gross and fine motor skills, such as grasping and reaching, are delayed due to a range of interactions, including medical, environmental, and genetic factors. Motor development includes the coordination of movement, coordination of visual and spatial perception, and coordination of the senses, that a child utilizes while they engage in physical activities. Health care providers monitor infants for signs and symptoms of delayed motor development within their practice.
NANDA Nursing Diagnosis Definition
NANDA Nursing Diagnosis (NND) states that Delayed Infant Motor Development is defined as “inadequate muscle strength, coordination, and/or motor skill development for age.” Delayed motor development can be of particular concern because it can indicate implications for later cognitive and physical development, as well as increases the risk of injury to the developing infant.
Defining Characteristics
Delayed infant motor development by NND can be identified through subjective and objective signs, including:
- Subjective Signs: such as parent/guardian or healthcare reported perceptions that infant’s movements are weaker than expected, infant has difficulty transitioning between sitting and standing, difficulty managing objects, and/or difficulty with fine motor skills, such as constructing puzzles.
- Objective Signs: such as decreased/weak muscle tone or strength, decreased hand control and grasping, decreased/poor reactive reflexes and responses, head lag during seated to supine transition, decreased bimanual manipulation, delayed rolling over, reduced visual attention to objects, poor prone crawling, poor eye contact, decreased sensory exploration, and/or inability to move from one position to another.
Related Factors
Related factors that can influence delayed infant motor development may include:
- Medical Factors: conditions that can interfere with muscle contraction, head control, breathing, or vision; including premature birth, low birth weight, asphyxia, cerebral palsy, birth defects, congenital heart defect, kidney or urinary disorders, chromosomal disorder, infectious disease, metabolic disorder, CNS infection or lesion, or medication side-effects.
- Environmental Factors: such as nutritional deficiencies, disruptive environment, or limited physical activity.
- Genetic Factors: abnormalities of muscle development or chromosome abnormality.
At Risk Population
Individuals who may be at greater risk for delayed motor development include those born preterm, babies with birth weight under 2500 grams, or those diagnosed with medical problems such as cerebral palsy, head injury, or global developmental delay.
Associated Conditions
NANDA Nursing Diagnosis may classify conditions as associated with delayed infant motor development, such as decreased/weak muscle tone, reduced skin mobility, deficient knowledge, ineffective airway clearance, risk for injury, or risk for falls.
Suggestions of Use
NND suggests that the diagnosis of delayed infant motor development be used to identify those at risk and help provide anticipatory guidance to families for early recognition of developmental delays. The information can be used to guide appropriate referrals to appropriate allied health professionals, namely physical therapists and occupational therapists.
Suggested Alternate NANDA Nursing Diagnosis
Suggested alternate NANDA Nursing Diagnosis related to delayed infant motor development may include:
- Ineffective Breathing Pattern
- Acute Pain
- Activity Intolerance
- Risk for Injury
- Risk for Falls
- Impaired Mobility
Usage Tips
When caring for an infant with delayed motor development, use the following tips:
- Provide gentled observation and assessment of any visible motor skill development.
- Utilize developmental assessments, play observation, and milestones to determine severity of delay.
- Encourage parents/caregivers to maintain consistent physical activity and safe environments to promote motor development.
- Encourage parents/caregivers to provide positive reinforcement for skill acquisition.
- Support parenting skills related to infant motor development.
- Inform parents/caregivers of need for early intervention services.
- Promote healthy eating habits to support physical development.
- Refer to Occupational Therapist , Physical Therapist and other allied health professionals, as indicated.
NOC Outcomes
Nurse and Parent Partnership for Health Promotion and Maintenance of Infant Growth and Physical Performance can be assessed through the following NOC outcomes:
- Muscle Coordination – ability to perform developed motor skills in a logical and fluent sequence as expected for age.
- Motor Ability – ability to perform gross and fine motor skills as expected for age.
- muscle Strength – the amount of force produced by muscles when attempting to lift or move a load or object.
- Parent Engagement in Health Maintenance of Child – participation in child growth and development.
Evaluation Objectives and Criteria
When assessing an infant’s progress towards meeting the NOC Outcomes:
- Muscle Coordination: The infant should be able to demonstrate the ability to complete tasks such as grasping, releasing, handing objects, and responding to external stimuli.
- Motor Ability: The infant should be able to complete tasks such as rolling, prolonged sitting, and crawling.
- Muscle Strength: The infant should meet age-appropriate strength expectations for tasks such as lifting, carrying, and pushing objects.
- Parent Engagement in Health Maintenance of Child: The parent(s) should demonstrate understanding and appreciation for the importance of infant growth and development, and take regular effort to ensure their infant is developing optimally.
NIC Interventions
NIC interventions that can be used when creating treatment plans for infants experiencing delayed motor development may include:
- Neuromuscular Stimulation – creating activities or exercises to facilitate muscle coordination, improve motor response and strengthen tired muscles.
- Motor Skill Facilitation and Teaching – assisting individuals with activities that enhance motor development.
- Training in Use of Assistive Technology – teaching individuals with physical disabilities how to use special equipment to perform activities.
- Health Teaching – provides collaborative direction which teaches proper breathing techniques, nutrition, and postural support to assist with proper motor functioning.
- Nutrition Monitoring – regular assessment of nutrition to ensure adequate nutrition support to sustain physical development.
- Family Support – assisting the family in the development and application of plan of care to improve infant growth and development.
Nursing Activities
When creating care plans for infants experiencing delayed motor development, nurses may include:
- Developing a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for the infant
- Instructing parents on safe handling and positioning for optimal motor development
- Creating activities and exercises suitable for individual’s age, needs, and abilities
- Instructing parents on stimulation, positioning,weight bearing, and other activities needed to foster motor development
- Teaching parents how to maintain a safe posturewhile using assistive devices on their infants
- Observing and assessing the infant as they participate inactivities to document progress and make appropriate interventions, as necessary
- Encouraging parents to take part in therapeutic activitieswith their infants to promote motor development and family bonding.
Conclusion
Delayed infant motor development is a nursing diagnosis that can be used to identify infants at risk of an underlying medical condition or environmental factors that can impede the development of their gross and fine motor skills. Nurses can assess for delayed motor development by evaluating the infant’s muscle strength, coordination, and/or motor skill development for age and then create intervention plans that include neuromuscular stimulation, motor skill facilitation and teaching, health teaching, and family support. When providing anticipatory guidance to families, nurses should take into account the various medical and environmental factors that may influence an infant’s motor development, and suggest appropriate interventions to address those issues.
FAQs
- What is Delayed Infant Motor Development? Delayed infant motor development is a nursing diagnosis that indicates the development of an infant’s gross and fine motor skills, such as grasping and reaching, are delayed due to a range of interactions, including medical, environmental, and genetic factors. Health care providers monitor infants for signs and symptoms of delayed motor development within their practice.
- What are some of the signs and symptoms of delayed infant motor development? Signs and symptoms of delayed infant motor development can include decreased/weak muscle tone or strength, decreased hand control and grasping, decreased/poor reactive reflexes and responses, head lag during seated to supine transition, decreased bimanual manipulation, delayed rolling over, lack of visual attention to objects, poor prone crawling, decreased sensory exploration, and/or inability to move from one position to another.
- What are some associated conditions of delayed infant motor development? NANDA Nursing Diagnosis classifies conditions such as decreased/weak muscle tone, reduced skin mobility, deficient knowledge, ineffective airway clearance, risk for injury, or risk for falls as associated with delayed infant motor development.
- What tips should be used when caring for an infant with delayed motor development? When caring for an infant with delayed motor development, provide gentled observation and assessment of any visible motor skill development, utilize developmental assessments, play observation, and milestones to determine severity of delay, encourage parents/caregivers to maintain consistent physical activity and safe environments to promote motor development, encourage parents/caregivers to provide positive reinforcement for skill acquisition, support parenting skills related to infant motor development, inform parents/caregivers of need for early intervention services, promote healthy eating habits to support physical development, and refer to Occupational Therapist , Physical Therapist and other allied health professionals, as indicated.
- What interventions can be used in treatment plans for infants experiencing delayed motor development? NIC interventions for infants experiencing delayed motor development may include neuromuscular stimulation, motor skill facilitation and teaching, training in use of assistive technology, health teaching, nutrition monitoring, and family support.