Age characteristics of the nervous system from 0 to 18 years

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The habit of biting your nails, frequent moodiness or regular abdominal pain - neurosis may be hidden behind all this. In the previous article, we talked in detail about the main symptoms and causes of childhood neurosis.

In a new article, psychologist Elena Lagunova talks about how to help a child cope with neurosis.

The most difficult thing for a parent is to notice what experiences are transmitted to the child and overwhelm him.

Impact of Adult ADHD

When adult ADHD is diagnosed, chances are you've suffered for years with an unrecognized problem. People may have called you "lazy" or "stupid" because of your forgetfulness or difficulty completing tasks, and you may have begun to think of yourself in these negative terms, too.

Untreated ADHD has widespread effects

ADHD that goes undiagnosed and untreated can cause problems in almost every area of life.

Physical and mental health problems

ADHD symptoms contribute to a range of health problems, including binge eating, substance abuse, anxiety, chronic stress, tension, and low self-esteem.

You may face problems due to neglecting important check-ups, missing doctor's appointments, ignoring medical instructions, and forgetting to take vital medications.

Work and financial difficulties

Adults with ADHD experience career difficulties and a strong sense of constant failure. Perhaps there are problems with work, compliance with corporate rules, deadlines, and work schedules.

Financial management becomes a challenge: the constant struggle with unpaid bills, lost documents, late payments, debts due to impulsive spending.

Relationship problems

ADHD symptoms affect work, love, and family relationships. You may be fed up with your loved ones' constant nagging to tidy up, listen more carefully, get better organized.

Those close to you, on the other hand, feel hurt by your “irresponsibility” or “insensitivity.”

The widespread effects of ADHD lead to confusion, frustration, hopelessness, and loss of confidence. You may feel like you will never be in control of your life. This is why a diagnosis of adult ADHD becomes a huge source of relief and hope.

It helps you understand what you are faced with, that it is not your fault. The difficulties that were experienced were symptoms of attention deficit disorder and not the result of personal weakness or character flaw.

Adult ADHD shouldn't be scary.

When you're diagnosed with ADHD, it's easy to know there's something wrong with you. It is not an indicator of intelligence or ability. Some things get harder, but that doesn't mean you can't find your niche and succeed. You need to find out what your strengths are and use them.

It may be helpful to think of attention deficit disorder as a collection of symptoms that are both positive and negative.

Just like any other set of qualities you might have. Along with the impulsiveness and disorganization of ADHD, for example, often comes incredible creativity, passion, energy, creative thinking, and a constant flow of original ideas.

Methodological development “Age-related characteristics of the nervous system in children” consultation on the topic

Age-related structural features and

functioning of the nervous system in children.

Neuron development.

By the time of birth, the child’s nervous system has already been formed, all parts of the nervous system are developed, but it is not yet perfect in its work (in its functional activity).

The nervous system begins to form in the 3rd week of embryonic development from cells of the ectoderm (the outer germ layer of the embryo).

At first, neurons are a nucleus surrounded by cytoplasm. At the 3rd month of intrauterine development, axon growth begins. It grows towards the periphery, right up to the final organ. The functional activity of a neuron begins from the moment the axon reaches the organ. The synapse develops along with the axon. Dendrites grow after the axon. The ability to conduct excitation in the dendrite appears later than in the axon: the axon functions already before birth, and the dendrite - after. In the cerebral cortex, the number of dendrites increases with the number of conditioned reflex connections.

After birth, the number of nerve cells changes slightly. The complication of the functions of nerve cells occurs due to the following changes:

by increasing the size of neurons;
axon growth in length;
dendrite branching;
increasing the diameter of the processes;
increasing the distance between nerve cells.

Myelination of nerve fibers.

As axons grow, they undergo myelination. This process occurs from the cell body to the periphery of the axon. Myelination begins at 4-5 months of embryonic development and ends mainly by 3 years of life (although the growth of the myelin sheath continues after 3 years). While there is no myelin sheath, the functional capabilities of the nerve fiber are limited (only weak reactions are possible). As the myelin sheath develops, the excitability of the nerve fiber gradually increases.

The peripheral nerves are the first to myelinate, then the fibers of the spinal cord, later the nerve fibers of the trunk and cerebellum, and lastly the fibers of the cerebral hemispheres.

Motor nerves and spinal cord pathways are covered with myelin at birth, and sensory nerves are covered by 3 months. life, cranial nerves - by 3-4 years.

As brain neurons myelinate, the child is able to perform certain actions and movements. For example: myelination of the speech center ends by 1.5-2 years, so the child begins to speak.

Lack of myelin leads to a “diffuse” reaction, i.e. The child responds to one stimulus with numerous actions. For example: when an infant wants to eat, he not only smacks his lips, but also cries, screams and makes various movements with his body, arms, and legs. At 3 months, seeing a familiar adult, the child not only smiles at him, but also makes movements and begins to make sounds.

Myelination accelerates in those fibers that begin to function intensively

( work). In order for myelination of any part of the brain to occur faster, it is necessary to carry out massage, passive and active gymnastics, finger gymnastics, and develop fine motor skills of the hands. (Development of fine motor skills

hands leads to accelerated myelination in the brain, and as a result, to accelerated mental and physical development).

Development of the spinal cord and brain.

By the time of birth, the structure of the brain is largely complete.

The spinal cord is the most developed. Its weight at birth is about 4 grams, by 6 months it increases 2 times, by 3 years – 4 times, by 6 grams. – 5 times, by the age of 20 it increases 8 times.

By birth, all cells are well developed. The reflexes for which the spinal cord is responsible are established during the period of intrauterine development.

The brain is formed even before birth. On the 5th week. In the embryo, brain vesicles form, from which all parts of the brain develop. During this period, it is important to maintain the health of the mother; diseases, smoking (including passive smoking), and alcohol are unacceptable.

A newborn's brain weight is 350-370 grams. The brain grows and develops most rapidly during the first 7 years. By 1 year of age, brain mass doubles

by 3 years it triples, by 7 years it approaches the weight of an adult, reaching 1250 grams.

At school age, the increase in brain mass slows down sharply and by the onset of adulthood it is approximately 1400 g, reaching a maximum by 20–29 years.

But the functional capabilities of the brain differ greatly, because... Brain cells in children have a simpler structure.

Simultaneously with the growth of the brain, its structure becomes more complex, and consequently, the functions of the child’s nervous system develop and improve.

By the time of birth, the parts of the brain responsible for unconditioned reflexes (reflexes of breathing, cardiovascular system, food, protective and orientation reflexes) are well developed. From 2 months Throughout life, a child begins to develop conditioned reflexes on the basis of unconditioned reflexes.

Development of the cerebral cortex.

The development of the cortex occurs over a long period of ontogenesis. The bark begins to form early. Up to 4 months in the fetus the surface of the cerebral hemispheres is smooth, from 5 months. main grooves appear. By the time of birth, the cortex has the same type of structure as that of an adult, but it differs in the shape and size of the grooves and convolutions. Later, as the child grows, the furrows become deeper, the convolutions between them become more prominent, and the formation of small furrows and convolutions continues.

By the time of birth, the cortex has the same number of nerve cells as in an adult. But the nerve cells of a newborn are immature: the cells have a simpler structure, a simple shape, and a small number of processes. The cortex is thinner than in adults, the cortical layers are poorly differentiated, and the nerve centers are not sufficiently formed.

After birth, the cortex develops very quickly. By 2 years, the area of the cortex increases 2.5 times (due to an increase in the number of processes and their length).

Myelination of the nerve fibers of the brain occurs unevenly. The nerve fibers of the frontal lobe are the last to become covered with myelin. Therefore, excitement spreads to a large number of muscles, which manifests itself in the child’s violent motor reaction.

By the age of 5-7 years, the child’s brain is similar to the adult’s brain, but differs in its functionality. The behavior of a newborn is regulated not by the cortex, but by unconditioned reflexes: food, skin, grasping, flexion-extensor, static, stato-kinetic, etc. Newborn reactions involving the cortex occur to sound and light stimuli: the cortex is involved in turning the eyes and head towards light and sound, and in distinguishing between red and green. As the child’s cortex develops, all reactions and movements improve, and conditioned reflexes appear.

Different zones of the cortex mature unevenly. The maturation of sensory and motor areas is generally completed by the age of 3 years. The associative zones mature much later. By the age of 7, there is a significant leap in the development of associative areas, but their maturation and the formation of connections with other parts of the brain occur until adolescence. The frontal areas of the cortex (motor areas) mature most late. Thus, the motor center of oral speech is formed by the age of 3 years. The motor center of written speech is finally formed by the age of 7 years. Visual center of written speech – up to 7 years.

Gradually (in preschool, junior and middle school age) there is an increase in associative fibers and the formation of new nerve connections between areas of the cortex.

This gradual maturation of the structures of the cerebral cortex determines the age-related characteristics of higher nervous functions and the behavior of children of preschool and primary school age.

What causes dysfunction of the central nervous system?

Most often, damage to the central nervous system in children occurs in the womb. This pathology is called “perinatal”. Also, problems with the central nervous system occur in premature babies who were born ahead of schedule. The reason for this is the immaturity of the baby’s organs and tissues, and the unpreparedness of the nervous system to work independently.

The main causes of intrauterine pathology can be called:

Fetal hypoxia.
Injuries during childbirth.
Oxygen starvation during childbirth.
Metabolic disorders in a child even before birth.
Infectious diseases in pregnant women (ureaplasmosis, HIV, etc.).
Complications during pregnancy.

All these factors that negatively affect the condition of the newborn are called residual organic (according to ICD-10).

Fetal hypoxia

This term refers to oxygen starvation inside the womb. This usually happens if the pregnant woman led an unhealthy lifestyle, had bad habits, etc. Previous abortions, disruption of uterine blood flow, etc. can also have a negative impact.

Injuries during childbirth

Most often, trauma occurs due to an incorrectly selected delivery option or due to errors by the obstetrician-gynecologist. This leads to disruption of the central nervous system in the first hours after the birth of the baby.

Metabolic disorder

Usually this process begins in the first months of embryo formation. This happens due to the negative effects of poisons, toxins or medications.

Infectious diseases in pregnant women

Any illness during pregnancy can lead to unpleasant consequences. Therefore, it is very important for a pregnant woman to protect herself from colds, viruses and infections. Diseases such as measles, rubella, chickenpox, etc. are especially dangerous, especially in the first trimester.

Pathologies during pregnancy

The development of the fetus is influenced by many factors, for example, polyhydramnios, oligohydramnios, carrying triplets, twins.

Genetic predisposition

The central nervous system will not develop fully if the baby has diseases such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, etc.

General advice from experts

Strengthening a child’s nervous system is not easy. It is important to take care of your child constantly, sparing no time and effort. In most cases, to normalize the emotional state, it is enough to follow simple advice from psychologists.

Ban on fast carbohydrates.
Mandatory physical activity.
Saturation of the body with vitamins, minerals, fatty acids.
Control of the daily routine.

It is very important that there is a comfortable, supportive atmosphere in the family. Only in this case will the little person be able to completely relax and not experience constant discomfort.

How to strengthen the nervous system with folk remedies?

There are many synthetic drugs indicated for mental disorders. But at a tender age, their use is allowed only in extreme cases. If the situation is not critical, it is better to use traditional medicine recipes.

Chamomile tea. One cup of drink in the evening will relieve emotional arousal, relax and help you fall asleep quickly.
Linden tea helps to distract from irritants and calm down.
Passionflower leaves, boiled for 5-10 minutes, then cooled and served as a salad, are an excellent remedy for nervousness. You can season them with sugar.

Before using any of the folk remedies, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Each organism is individual, and you cannot experiment on it. Especially when it comes to a child.

In addition to the methods already listed above, gymnastics, swimming in the pool and positive emotions will help restore the psyche and calm the nerves. The latter is especially important. The happier the child and the atmosphere around him, the lower the risk of developing neurosis. Which will be oh so difficult to cure! Especially if it becomes chronic and crosses the threshold of adulthood together with your son or daughter. It is better to prevent any problem than to solve it. Parents should remember this.

Carolina Korableva

About the author: Hello! I am Karolina Korableva. I live in the Moscow region, in the city of Odintsovo. I love life and people. I try to be realistic and optimistic in life. What I value in people is their ability to behave. I am interested in psychology, in particular conflictology. Graduated from RGSU, Faculty of Occupational Psychology and Special Psychology.

Again 37.5

The school year has just begun, and my child is already refusing to go to school, his body temperature is rising, he has abdominal pain, and sometimes vomiting. What to do?

Olga, Saransk

Such neurotic manifestations are typical for children 7–8 years old. In a stressful situation, their body temperature rises - thermoneurosis develops. Abdominal pain and vomiting may also occur.

First, you need to rule out diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in your child, including poisoning. What follows is the responsibility of a neurologist. An important difference between thermoneurosis and other diseases characterized by an increase in body temperature is that at night in a person suffering from thermoneurosis it does not increase during sleep. Check the child's body temperature during sleep several nights; if it does not increase, it looks like thermoneurosis. Such disorders can be corrected by taking sedatives and eliminating traumatic situations.

You can give your child a decoction (or tea) of mint, valerian root, motherwort, and lemon balm. However, if the child also has neurotic vomiting, you need to contact a neurologist, who will prescribe additional medications necessary in this case.

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Contact a speech therapist!

My son is in third grade. He has problems with writing and reading. He makes mistakes in simple words. The teacher complains about him - the boy has a bad relationship with her. Because of this, my son has recently started having hysterics, headaches, he refuses to do his homework, and does not want to go to school. What do you advise?

Elena, Veliky Novgorod

Your son has signs of dysgraphia and dyslexia (writing and reading impairment). At the same time, both the teacher and parents put pressure on him. Against this background, he developed neurosis.

How to fix the situation. Oddly enough, you should first start classes with a speech therapist. After all, writing is a type of speech: when we write, we pronounce the text to ourselves.

And your child also needs to read more. At the same time, let your son read what he likes. The main thing is that he reads daily. If the child is restless while reading and jumps from one line to another, you can use a transparent ruler or a flat magnifying glass on which a narrow strip will be left (the rest is sealed with electrical tape or masking tape). When reading with such devices, the child will clearly see the line he is reading and will concentrate better. It is better to discuss the prescription of specific sedatives with a neurologist.

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Treatment of neuroses in children: what not to do

The fact that a child begins to bite his nails or pull out his hair causes many different feelings and thoughts among close adults. I will dwell on popular misconceptions.

You can’t expect it to “go away on its own.” Some parents tend to hush up the problem. They hope the child will grow up and everything will somehow be resolved on its own. Yes, many of those who bit their nails or even wet the bed as children get out of the habit. But how much suffering the child endured before he grew up! Ridicule from peers, scolding from adults, feelings of self-worth. All this leaves an indelible mark on the soul and can interfere with success in life.

You can't blame yourself. Other parents are angry with themselves and feel worthless and incompetent. They torment themselves with thoughts: “Why? I’m a good mother, what have I done!” They are embarrassed to contact a specialist, fearing that he will scold them. Due to the strong feelings of the parent, the child’s neurosis may intensify even more.

It's not mom's fault

You can't blame the child. It's easy to believe that a child deliberately pulls out his hair or wets his pants to annoy his parents. For “disobedience” and threats to parental authority, the child is punished more severely in order to restore the balance of power. Resentment and fear are added to neurosis, and the situation worsens.

Signs

A comprehensive understanding of one’s own person and the environment provides a definition of the stability of the nervous system.

It is believed that people with weak systems are more susceptible to stressors. Moreover, in accordance with the modern position of specialists, the number of such persons is constantly increasing with each subsequent generation.

A certain “reserve” of strength, which the nervous system is rich in, is laid down at birth. The described indicator characterizes the performance and stability of all nervous structures of the body.

Those with a weak nervous system are unable to endure the effects of intense stimuli. They have difficulty retaining information that comes to them. That is why people with “weak nerves” are ready to share it with those around them.

The considered characteristic of the totality of nervous structures is responsible for the laziness of people. Moreover, such people, even existing in poverty, will not make any efforts to change the situation and improve their situation.

A person with a weak nervous system, in addition to the above symptoms, is also characterized by indecision. He is constantly tormented by doubts. Sensitive individuals doubt themselves and those around them, even people who want to help. They constantly make excuses in order to disguise their own mistakes. Often this is expressed in envy, especially towards people more successful than them.

A sign of a weak nervous system in a person is causeless anxiety, often leading to a nervous outburst.

Important!

Without a doctor's prescription, children can take:

B vitamins (especially in combination with magnesium);
sedative homeopathic remedies;
herbal medicine (mint, valerian root, motherwort, lemon balm, passionflower, chamomile). The use of St. John's wort as a sedative is permissible from the age of 12.

When prescribing sedatives, you need to remember that the child is learning, and it is important to ensure that these drugs do not reduce concentration.