Colic for Developmentalists

During paroxysms of colic, infants are hypertonic or neurolabile, and appear to be in acute, abdominal pain. The infant lets out a high-pitched cry which soon reaches a screaming level, and which is coupled with facial grimacing. The infant is difficult to console, and may resist attempts to sooth it. Between spells, these infants cry normally and are not hypertonic. Recent research suggests that infants with true colic represent a subgroup of infants with excessive crying. Findings indicate that colic and excessive crying can be differentiated by physical and behavioral criteria. Mothers of infants with colic perceive their infant's cry as being different from that of other infants, and Late their infants as having a difficult temperament. From a pediatric point of view, colic appears to be an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system, particularly of the dynamic interplay between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. From a developmental point of view, this autonomic imbalance could be related to the broad spectrum of changes in neurological and behavioral function that occur around the second month: the so-called biobehavioral shift from basic physiological regulation to the beginnings of social regulation. What is triggered by crying as a biologically based condition may develop into crying as mediated by social-emotional factors in the parents. (RH) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** PRELIMINARY DRAFT U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OVce of Educat.onalfieSearch and trnp,overnent EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERICI XTb(s document nas been reproduced as robCe,ecf ',Oh, the Oe,SOn o, Organt:,b0n r,gnat.ng tt Minor changes na,e been made to rnprove reoreCoct,on quahty Ponts or ,te. or orarmons stateC ntnisdocu °lent do not necessanly represent orb, at OE RI pos.t.on or cohcy COLIC FOR DEVELOPMENTALISTS BARRY M. LESTER, PH.D. BROWN UNIVERSITY BRADLEY HOSPITAL AND WOMEN & INFANTS" HOSPITAL PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MANERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY b(3,:crl Pk. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)" PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION BETWEEN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND PEDIATRICS: THE CASE OF INFANT COLIC, B.M. LESTER (CHAIR), INVITED SYMPOSIUM, MEETING OF THE SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT, KANSAS CITY, APRIL 27-30, 1989. 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE