As the saying goes [big head is smart, small head is smart], the bigger the baby’s head is, the smarter it is. Is this statement really scientific?
First, how to measure
The size of the baby’s head is generally measured by head circumference. Head circumference refers to the maximum length around the head. Generally, it is measured by a soft ruler. The baby takes the standing position, sitting position or supine position. The soft ruler is fixed at 0 o’clock on the upper edge of the eyebrow arch on one side of the head. The length of the head circumference is determined by clinging to the scalp (too much hair will push it away) and returning to 0 o’clock around the highest point of the occipital tuberosity and the upper edge of the eyebrow arch on the other side.
Second, normal head circumference
Is the size of the baby’s head circumference directly proportional to his intelligence and does he need a professional examination?
It is medically believed that the normal head is surrounded by
A. 32-34 cm on average at birth;
B. The head circumference was about 46 cm at the age of 1;
C. Head circumference about 48 cm at the age of 2;
D. The head circumference of 2-15 years old only increased by 6-7 cm.
Normal baby’s cranial cavity mainly has brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, cerebrovascular vessels and blood flowing in the lumen. The volume of the cranial cavity and the volume of the contents it contains are constant, and the intracranial space maintains a certain pressure. As the skull suture of children is not yet closed, the cranial suture can crack and increase the head circumference when the intracranial pressure increases. Therefore, when it is found that the head circumference of children is obviously larger than that of children of the same age around them, parents should pay attention to it.
Three, the what disease will cause the baby’s head circumference to increase significantly? 1. Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is an increase in the amount of water in the head, This [water] in the head is called cerebrospinal fluid. Under normal circumstances, Cerebrospinal fluid is continuously produced and absorbed and returned to the vein to maintain the balance of intracranial cerebrospinal fluid volume. Hydrocephalus will occur when cerebrospinal fluid is produced too much or cerebrospinal fluid absorption is impaired due to obstruction of circulation pathway. Babies with hydrocephalus generally have some or all of the following symptoms:
A. The head circumference was significantly larger than that of the children of the same age
B. Vomiting
C. Sleepy (difficult to wake up) or looking agitated, it is easy to cry without reason.
D. Poor feeding
E. Uplift of the soft area (fontanelle) in the anterior part of the head
F. Unexplained convulsions
G. Very obvious scalp vessels
H. Slow growth and development (e.g. Rolling slowly, sitting slowly, talking late)
I. [Sunset] Phenomenon: The eyes always seem to look down, not up
2. Intracranial space occupying lesions
Intracranial space occupying lesions refer to a group of diseases that occupy a certain spatial position in the cranial cavity. Such as intracranial hematoma, brain tumor, arachnoid cyst, brain abscess, etc. Intracranial space occupation not only occupies a certain space in the cranial cavity, In severe cases, it can also block the return pathway of cerebrospinal fluid, In addition to causing the baby’s head circumference to increase abnormally, It can also show nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, vision loss, polydipsia, polyuria, precocious puberty and convulsions of unknown causes. Young children cannot express headache clearly or cannot express it. It often causes misunderstanding and neglect by parents. When children are agitated, their hands keep tapping their heads or scratching their hair and crying, parents should pay attention to it. This may be a special expression of headache for children.
3. Giant encephalopathy
Giant brain disease is a rare hereditary disease, which is also called cerebral gigantism because the head circumference and physique of these babies are enlarged. Babies with giant brain disease show increased weight, length and head circumference. It may also be accompanied by protruding forehead, widening orbit, huge hands and feet, pointed forehead, long head and mental retardation.
4. Simple head size
Simple head size is also a hereditary disease, which is mainly manifested by short limbs, relatively large head circumference, wide face, nose collapse, forehead and mandible protruding forward, but intelligence is generally normal.
It can be seen from this that [the bigger the baby’s head is, the smarter it is], this idea is not only unscientific but also needs to be highly valued by parents. Once the baby’s head circumference is found to be too large, he should go to the pediatric specialized hospital for treatment and carry out some necessary examinations.