Hypertonia may affect which functional area in infants?

Hypertonia may affect which functional area in infants?

• A. Head control and feeding
• B. Auditory processing
• C. Language development
• D. Vision acuity

Answer: (A)

Hypertonia means increased muscle tone, which makes muscles stiff and resist movement. In infants, this stiffness most directly disrupts the muscles that support the head and neck and the trunk. When head control is unreliable, coordinating the sequence of sucking, swallowing, and breathing during feeding becomes difficult and less efficient or safe. Since head and trunk control underpins early motor skills and feeding safety, these areas are the most affected by heightened tone. While auditory processing, language development, and vision can be influenced by broader developmental factors, they are not the primary functional domains altered by increased muscle tone in infancy.

Hypertonia means increased muscle tone, which makes muscles stiff and resist movement. In infants, this stiffness most directly disrupts the muscles that support the head and neck and the trunk. When head control is unreliable, coordinating the sequence of sucking, swallowing, and breathing during feeding becomes difficult and less efficient or safe. Since head and trunk control underpins early motor skills and feeding safety, these areas are the most affected by heightened tone. While auditory processing, language development, and vision can be influenced by broader developmental factors, they are not the primary functional domains altered by increased muscle tone in infancy.