Growth and development: early hand preference: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Growth and development: early hand preference

Sample item

A 7-month-old uses only the right hand to reach and grasp, while the left hand stays fisted and is rarely used. What does this early pattern suggest?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Left-sided hemiparesis

True handedness is established after about 2 years, and a firm hand preference before 12 months suggests weakness of the other side. A neurological examination with tone and reflex assessment is needed, as it may be an early sign of cerebral palsy.

Option by option

  • A. Left-sided hemiparesis (correct)

    Correct. Persistent neglect of one hand in infancy points to weakness of that side, from a lesion in the opposite hemisphere.

  • B. Normal emerging right-handedness

    Normal handedness emerges later and an infant uses both hands.

  • C. Delayed maturation of cerebral dominance

    Cerebral dominance is not clinically assessed this way, and delay would not neglect one hand.

  • D. A visual field defect

    A field defect alone does not explain a clenched, unused hand.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, Left-sided hemiparesis. True handedness is established after about 2 years, and a firm hand preference before 12 months suggests weakness of the other side.

Why is "Normal emerging right-handedness" not the answer?

Normal handedness emerges later and an infant uses both hands.

Why is "Delayed maturation of cerebral dominance" not the answer?

Cerebral dominance is not clinically assessed this way, and delay would not neglect one hand.

Why is "A visual field defect" not the answer?

A field defect alone does not explain a clenched, unused hand.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Growth and development: early hand preference in Pediatrics. A neurological examination with tone and reflex assessment is needed, as it may be an early sign of cerebral palsy.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Growth and development: early hand preference?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.