Question

After reading the assigned chapters from the textbook address the following areas in your discussion post: How do infants’ sensory abilities and reflexes prepare them to function and learn within their environment? Do you believe the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) is an adequate assessment of infant functioning? What are the main systems assessed? What additional area would you like to see added to infant assessments? Would this addition reduce the incidence of SIDS? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Newborn who are termed infants till the first 30 days of their life.The sensory abilities of the infants starts developing right from the pregnancy. The main sensory ability being the the vision at birth is that the baby will be able to recognize only at 8 to 10 inches.The complete development occurs when the baby is about 3 months.

The hearing of baby is almost heard during the pregnancy at 7 months .After birth the baby can recognise sounds as it heart the heartbeat of mother when it was in the womb.Even unpleasant notices for baby can be a musical sound for them.The baby can recognise the taste from sweet to soundness but bit prefers sweet compared to others. The sense of smell and touch are also good for them.

The Neonatal Behaviour Assessment Scale or Brazelton Behaviour Assessment Scale covers most of things which helps to detect the abilities of baby from 3 days to 4weeks.

It has a score of 47 where 27 are for behaviour and 20 for elicited responses..It assess all the cognitive senses Central nervous ssystem,musculoskeletal system, sensory system.

Risk assessment can be added to this to prevent baby death.Adding this will reduce SIDS by creating awareness among parents.Also addition of assessment for important organs can be done.