The age group 12-18 years is best described as which term?

• A. Infants
• B. Children
• C. Adolescents
• D. Young adults

Answer: (C)

Adolescence is the developmental stage between childhood and adulthood, typically marked by puberty and rapid changes in the body, thinking, and social roles. The 12–18-year range fits this period, where individuals become more independent, process new identity and decision-making tasks, and experience hormonal changes that drive growth and development. Using this term helps you communicate about age-appropriate physiology, behavior, and medical considerations for teens, including privacy, consent, and risk-taking tendencies. Infants refer to very young children under a year old, and young adults usually describe older teens to adults in the late teens or early 20s, while the term children generally covers ages before adolescence. So, the best descriptor for 12–18 years is adolescents.