The nurse is assessing a child for neurological soft signs. Which finding is most likely demonstrated in the child's behavior?

• A. Presence of vertigo.
• B. Loss of visual acuity.
• C. Poor coordination and sense of position.
• D. Inability to move tongue in all directions.

Answer: (C)

Neurological soft signs are subtle, nonlocalizing neuromotor indicators of mild developmental immaturity rather than a clear focal brain lesion. In children, these show up as clumsiness and problems with coordination and with sensing the body’s position—proprioception. That makes poor coordination and sense of position the best fit, because it reflects mild motor incoordination and proprioceptive difficulty typical of soft signs.

Vertigo is a dizziness symptom and not a subtle, nonfocal neuromotor sign. Loss of visual acuity is a sensory/visual issue, not a soft sign of neurodevelopment. Inability to move the tongue in all directions points to a focal cranial nerve problem, a definite motor deficit rather than a soft sign.