Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The contribution of inadequate growth hormone release to developmental delays in failure to thrive syndrome is rooted in the crucial role that growth hormone plays in physical growth and development. Growth hormone is essential for stimulating growth in tissues and regulating metabolism. When there is insufficient production of this hormone, it can lead to diminished physical growth as well as delays in cognitive and emotional development. This hormone supports not just physical stature, but also the developmental milestones that children are expected to reach at various ages.

In cases of failure to thrive, where a child's growth is significantly below the expected standards due to lack of adequate nutrition or other underlying health issues, the impact of growth hormone is even more pronounced. Children may experience stunted growth and development delays because their bodies are not receiving the necessary signals to grow and develop properly.

The other factors listed, such as lack of physical exercise, environmental enrichment, and emotional stability, do play roles in overall child development but may not directly correlate with the physiological aspect of growth as fundamentally as growth hormone release does. Therefore, inadequate growth hormone release stands out as a critical factor leading to developmental delays in this syndrome.