Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


microcephaly

n. a condition in which the circumference of the head is more than two standard deviations below the mean for age, gender, race, and gestation. It may be present at birth or develop in the first few years of life. The condition is associated with Down syndrome and other chromosomal syndromes; neurometabolic syndromes; maternal PKU; and prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol, cytomegalovirus, rubella (German measles), varicella (chicken pox) virus, and certain toxic chemicals. Depending on the severity of their accompanying syndrome, children with microcephaly may have intellectual disability, delayed motor functions and speech, facial distortions, dwarfism or short stature, hyperactivity, seizures, difficulties with coordination and balance, and other brain or neurological abnormalities. Some children with microcephaly will have normal intelligence and a head that will grow bigger, although it will still be below the normal growth curves for head circumference. See also primary microcephaly. Compare macrocephaly. —microcephalic adj.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

November 24th 2024

hostile–detached marriage

hostile–detached marriage

an unstable marriage in which there are short but malicious disagreements between the partners.