Language development — MCQs

A 6-month-old boy is brought to the physician for a well-child examination. The boy was born at term, and the pregnancy was complicated by prolonged labor. There is no family history of any serious illnesses. He can sit upright but needs help to do so and cannot roll over from the prone to the supine position. He can grasp his rattle and can transfer it from one hand to the other. He babbles. He cries if anyone apart from his parents holds him or plays with him. He touches his own reflection in the mirror. Vital signs are within normal limits. He is at the 40th percentile for head circumference, 30th percentile for length, and 40th percentile for weight. Physical examination reveals no abnormalities. Which of the following developmental milestones is delayed in this infant?

A 4-year-old boy is brought to the physician by his parents because of concerns about his behavior during the past year. His parents report that he often fails to answer when they call him and has regular unprovoked episodes of crying and screaming. At kindergarten, he can follow and participate in group activities, but does not follow his teacher's instructions when these are given to him directly. He is otherwise cheerful and maintains eye contact when spoken to but does not respond when engaged in play. He gets along well with friends and family. He started walking at the age of 11 months and can speak in two-to-three-word phrases. He often mispronounces words. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 4-year-old boy is brought to the physician because of non-fluent speech. His mother worries that his vocabulary is limited for his age and because he cannot use simple sentences to communicate. She says he enjoys playing with his peers and parents, but he has always lagged behind in his speaking and communication. His speech is frequently not understood by strangers. He physically appears normal. His height and weight are within the normal range for his age. He responds to his name, makes eye contact, and enjoys the company of his mother. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 2-month-old is brought to the physician for a well-child examination. She was born at 39 weeks gestation via spontaneous vaginal delivery and is exclusively breastfed. She weighed 3,400 g (7 lb 8 oz) at birth. At the physician's office, she appears well. Her pulse is 136/min, the respirations are 41/min, and the blood pressure is 82/45 mm Hg. She weighs 5,200 g (11 lb 8 oz) and measures 57.5 cm (22.6 in) in length. The remainder of the physical examination is normal. Which of the following developmental milestones has this patient most likely met?

A 2-year-old girl is brought to the physician by her mother for a well-child examination. She is at the 55th percentile for height and the 40th percentile for weight. Vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination shows no abnormalities. She is able to follow simple commands, such as “close your eyes, then stick out your tongue,” but she is unable to follow 3-step commands. She knows approximately 75 words, and half of her speech is understandable. She can say 2-word phrases, and she is able to name many parts of the body. Assuming normal development, which of the following milestones would be expected in a patient this age?

A male child is presented at the pediatric clinic for a well-child visit by his mother who reports previously normal developmental milestones. The child was born at 40 weeks with no complications during pregnancy or birth. The mother notes that the infant is able to sit without support. He is able to feed himself crackers and pureed food. He is constantly shaking his toy teddy bear but is able to stop when the mother says 'no'. Which of the following indicate the most likely language milestone the child presents with?

A 13-month-old girl is brought to the physician for a well-child examination. She was born at 38 weeks' gestation. There is no family history of any serious illnesses. She cannot pull herself to stand from a sitting position. She can pick an object between her thumb and index finger but cannot drink from a cup or feed herself using a spoon. She comes when called by name and is willing to play with a ball. She cries if she does not see her parents in the same room as her. She coos “ma” and “ba.” She is at the 50th percentile for height and weight. Physical examination including neurologic examination shows no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most appropriate assessment of her development?

A 3-year-old girl is brought to the physician for a well-child examination. She was born at term and has been healthy since. She can climb up and down the stairs and can pedal a tricycle. She has difficulty using a spoon to feed herself but can copy a line. She speaks in 2- to 3-word sentences that can be understood by most people. She is selfish while playing with children her age and throws tantrums quite often. She cannot put on her own shoes and socks. She does not tolerate separation from her parents. She is at 60th percentile for height and weight. Physical examination including neurologic examination reveals no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most appropriate assessment of her development?

During subject selection for an infant neurological development study, a child is examined by the primary investigator. She is at the 80th percentile for length and weight. She has started crawling. She looks for dropped objects. She says mama and dada non-specifically. She can perform the pincer grasp. Which of the following additional skills or behaviors would be expected in a healthy patient of this developmental age?

A 1-year-old male presents to his pediatrician for a well-child visit. Through a history from the mother and physical examination, the pediatrician learns that the baby babbles non-specifically, takes several steps independently, and picks up his cereal using two fingers. His weight is currently 22 lbs (birth-weight 6 lbs, 9 oz), and his height is 30 inches (birth length 18 inches). Are there any aspects of this child's development that are delayed?