Grayce P. Storey
The adolescence period of young people extends from puberty to adulthood. The normal range is between twelve and twenty years.
During the first ten years of growth, this period is usually uniform. The body size usually meet the child’s needs. Once the child reaches adolescence, “disharmony commences in the physiological development, growth and emotional maturation. The teenager becomes a blend of maturity and immaturity in body, mind and emotions.”
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Physical growth is indicative of the first half of adolescence and intellectual and emotional growth in the latter half.
The sexual maturity of an individual’s adolescent life is referred to as puberty. The normal age for puberty to begin in girls is between 10-14 years. The boy’s age for puberty is about a year behind the girl.
What is normal for one child is not necessarily normal for another and the sooner parents and child realize this, the less unnecessary anxiety will be exhibited during the adolescent growth period. The disharmony may also be observed in the individuals body growth.
Certain body parts may grow while others may lag. “Organ imbalance leads to organ instability. Thus laziness and awkwardness may result”
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The average boy’s greatest height increase is between 12 and 14.5 years and continues to grow until age 18. Girls grow tallest between 10.5 to 14 years.
The reaching of puberty in the male is marked by the presence of pubic hair and the growth of the sexual organs and their ability to function. He is also capable at this time of achieving an erection of the penis. His voice deepens along with the broadening of the shoulders.
The lengthening of the legs are evident while his feet and hands grow larger.
Menstruation in the female is a sign of reaching puberty. The fear and shock interplays in this event when she has not been properly prepared. Irregularities and physical discomfort are common the first year. Parallel with menstruation is the broadening of the hips, the development of the breasts and the appearance of pubic hair.
The emotional factor is the most important aspect in the adolescent years. The adolescent is no longer considered a child but she or he may still exhibit childish wishes and habits. During this time the individual may also have many adult problems and emotions. He or she may long for both world and is unable to understand his peculiar position during this period. This may lead to a feeling of insecurity which may lend itself to arrogance.
Normally during the adolescent period the emotional parent ties should be widen to even more interests and relationships. If emotional maturity is stifled, it could lead to rebellion.
Puberty brings about anatomical, physiological, and endocrinological changes in the human which causes the individual to become sexually reproductive. These changes are caused by a message sent from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland to release the FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone). “The onset of puberty is believed to occur as a consequence of a change in the steady state of the prepubescent pituitary-gonadal system. It has been hypothesized that there is over years 6-10 a decrease in the feedback sensitivity of the central nervous system-pituitary axis, resulting in an increase in the secretion of GnRH, which in turn initiates the increased secretion of LH and FSH above the prepubescent low basal levels.”
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