Life Span

Development

EMS Training Programs

Imperial Valley College

1/7/2010
Objective

 Discuss distinct physiologic and

psychosocial characteristics of various
age groups from infant to late-aged
 Compare to the typical early
adulthood person

1/7/2010
Age Groups
 Neonate: birth to 1 month
 Infant: 1 month to 1 year
 Toddler: 1 year to 3 years
 Preschool: 3 to 5 years
 School age: 6-12 years
 Adolescence: 13-18 years
 Early Adulthood: 19-40 years
 Middle Adulthood: 41-60 years
 Late Adulthood: 61 years and older

1/7/2010
Neonate & Infant: Physiologic
 Vital Signs
• HR
 100-160  120 after first 30 mins
 CO is HR dependent
• Vent Rate
 40-60  30-40 after 1st mins of life
 20-30 by one year
• Tidal Volume
 Doubles by first year

1/7/2010
Neonate & Infant: Physiologic

 Weight
• 3 to 3.5 kg at birth
• slight  after 1st week
• weight triple by 1 year (10 kg)
• head 25% TBW

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Neonate & Infant: Physiologic

 Cardiovascular System
• ductus arteriosus, ductus venosus and
foramen ovale close soon after birth
•  SVR
•  PVR
• L ventricle strengthens during year

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 Neonate & Infant: Physiologic

Patent Ductus Arteriosus

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Neonate & Infant: Physiologic

 Pulmonary System
• Short, narrow, easily obstructed
• neonate: obligate nose breather
• immature accessory muscles
• flexible chest wall
• diaphragmatic breathing normal
• higher oxygen consumption rate
•  vent rate leads to rapid heat & fluid loss

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 Neonate & Infant: Anatomic

 Airway
Considerations

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Neonate & Infant: Physiologic

 Renal System
• unable to concentrate urine
 Immune System
• passive immunity first 6 months
• immature immune system
• no acquired immunity after 6 months

1/7/2010
Neonate & Infant: Physiologic

 Nervous System
• reflexes: sucking, rooting, palmar grasp
• fontanelles: posterior closes @ 3 mos; anterior
closes @ 9-18 mos
• sleep 16-18 hrs/day
• even wake throughout 24 hr day
• sleeps thru night at 2-4 mos
• infant easily arousable

1/7/2010
Neonate & Infant: Physiologic
 Developmental Changes
• 2 mos: tracks objects with eyes; recognizes familiar faces
• 4 mos: reaches out to people
• 6 mos: sits upright; one syllable sounds
• 7 mos: fears strangers
• 9 mos: pulls to standing position
• 10 mos: crawls
• 11 mos: attempt to or walks; knows name

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 Neonate & Infant: Social

 How would
you
describe
this infant?

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Toddler & Pre-School: Physiologic
 Vital Signs
• HR
 80-120/130 bpm
• Vent Rate
 20-30 breaths per min
• Systolic BP
 Toddler: 70-100 mm Hg
 Pre-School: 80-110 mm Hg
 Min systolic: 70 + (2 X age yrs)

1/7/2010
Toddler & Pre-School: Physiologic

 Weight
• Avg gain 2 kg/year (up to 8 yrs)
 Cardiovascular system
• capillary beds developed to aid in
thermoregulation
• hemoglobin levels approach adult
 Renal system
• toddler urine findings similar to adults

1/7/2010
Toddler & Pre-School: Physiologic

 Immune system
• more susceptible to minor infections
• develops acquired immunity as exposures
occur
 Nervous system
• myelination increases cognitive development
• fine motor skills developing

1/7/2010
Toddler & Pre-School: Physiologic

 Musculoskeletal system
• muscle mass & bone density 
 Sensory development
• visual acuity: 20/30 during toddler yrs
• hearing: mature at 3-4 yrs

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Toddler & Pre-School:
Psychosocial
 Cognitive
• basics of language by 3 yrs
• separation anxiety at 18-24 mos.
 Modeling
• begin to recognize differences of sex
• begin to model themselves based on sex

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 Toddler & Pre-School: Psychosocial

 Play
• able to play simple
games & follow simple
rules
• begins
competitiveness

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School Age: Physiologic

 Vital Signs
• HR: 70-110 bpm
• Vent rate: 20-30 breaths per min
• Sys BP: 80-120 mm Hg
• Avg weight gain of 3 kg/year

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School Age: Physiologic

 All Systems
• most at adult levels during this period
• brain function continues to increase

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School Age: Psychosocial

 Develop self-concept
• compare to others
• self-esteem
• affected by peer popularity, rejection,
neglect & emotional support

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 School Age: Psychosocial

 Does this 10-year-old

look ill?
 Why?

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Adolescence: Physiologic

 Vital signs
• HR: 55-105 bpm
• Vent rate: 12-20 breaths per min
• Systolic BP: 100-120 mm Hg

1/7/2010
Adolescence: Physiologic

 Growth
• most have a rapid 2-3 year growth spurt
 begins with enlarged feet & hands
 followed by enlarged arms & legs
 then chest & trunk
• mostly done growing by
 girls: age 16
 boys: age 18

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Adolescence: Physiologic

 Sexual development
• noticeable development of external sexual
organs
• pubic and axillary hair develops
• vocal quality changes (mostly males)
• menstruation begins (menarche)

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Adolescence: Physiologic

 Endocrine
• female
 gonadotropin promotes estrogen &
progesterone production
• male
 gonadotropin promotes testosterone production
• reproductive maturity

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Adolescence: Physiologic

 Other changes
• body fat  early and  later
• female requires 18-20% body fat for
menarche to occur
• blood chemistry nearly equal adult

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 Adolescence: Psychosocial

 Family Issues
• strive for autonomy
• puberty changes
• idealistic
• seeks independence &
identity

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Adolescence: Psychosocial
 Identity issues
• Increase in:
 self-consciousness
 peer pressure
 interest in opposite sex
• anti-social behavior peaks 8th or 9th grade
• wants to be treated like an adult

1/7/2010
Adolescence: Psychosocial

 Identify issues
• body image of great concern
 comparison against peers
 eating disorders common
• self-destructive behaviors
 tobacco
 alcohol
 drugs

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Adolescence: Psychosocial

 Depression & suicide very common

 Trauma: leading cause of death
 Feeling of Invincibility
• It won’t happen to me
• But I’m healthy
• I know what I’m doing

1/7/2010
Early Adulthood: Physiologic

 Vital signs
• HR: 60-100 bpm (avg 70)
• Vent rate: 12-20 breaths per min
• BP: avg 120/80 mm Hg
 Peak physical condition: 19-26 years
 Develop lifelong habits & routines
 Body systems at optimal performance

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Early Adulthood: Psychosocial

 High levels of stress in this age group

 Childbirth most common in this age
group
 Fewer psychological problems related
to health & development

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Middle Adulthood: Physiologic

 Vital signs
• similar to Early Adulthood
 Varying degrees of body system
degradation
 Vision & Hearing changes
 Cancer common in this age group
 Weight control difficult

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Middle Adulthood: Physiologic

 Cardiovascular system
• cholesterol levels increase
• decreased cardiac output
• high risk of AMI
• menopause in late 40s or early 50s

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Middle Adulthood: Psychosocial

 Concerned with “social clock”

• task oriented
• pressured for time to accomplish life goals
 Approach problems as challenges
 Empty nest syndrome
 Financial burdens: elderly parents &
young adult children

1/7/2010
 Late Adulthood: Physiologic

 Vital signs
• all depend on patient’s
physical & health
status

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Late Adulthood: Physiologic

 Cardiovascular system
• vascular
  peripheral vascular resistance
 atherosclerosis
  baroreceptor sensitivity
• blood cells
  functional blood volume, RBCs & platelets
 poor iron levels

1/7/2010
Late Adulthood: Physiologic

 Cardiovascular system
• Heart
 increased workload
•  myocardial elasticity
• mitral & aortic valve changes
 myocardium less responsive to stress
 pacemaker cells diminish resulting in dysrhythmias
 tachycardia not well tolerated
 previous injury

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Late Adulthood: Physiologic

 Respiratory system
• diaphragm elasticity diminished
• chest wall weakens
• diffusion through alveoli decreased
• lung capacity diminished
• coughing less effective

1/7/2010
Late Adulthood: Physiologic

 Endocrine system
• decreased glucose metabolism
• decreased insulin production
• cortisol diminished
 Renal system
• 50% nephrons lost
• decreased elimination

1/7/2010
Late Adulthood: Physiologic

 GI system
• peristalsis decreased
• esophageal sphincter less effective
• GI secretions decreased
• Vitamin & mineral deficiencies common
 Nervous system
• neurotransmitters diminished
• neurons lost

1/7/2010
Late Adulthood: Physiologic

 Sensory changes
• loss of taste buds
• olfactory, visual acuity & reaction time
decreased
• diminished pain perception
• loss of hearing

1/7/2010
Late Adulthood: Psychosocial

 Wisdom attributed to age in some cultures

 Most live in communities
 Challenges
• self worth
• declining health
• financial burdens
• death or dying of companions/friends

1/7/2010