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Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
Published on: October 14, 2022
Visuospatial deficits in children 3-7 years old with shunted hydrocephalus
Serena V Frank1, Theophilus Lazarus, Narendra Nathoo
1School of Psychology, University of Durban-Westville.
Insights
Children with shunted hydrocephalus (HCP) exhibit significant non-verbal intelligence deficits compared to controls. These cognitive impairments affect spatial orientation, planning, and abstract thinking, highlighting the need for specialized educational support.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Hydrocephalus (HCP) is a condition characterized by excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.
- Shunt placement is a common treatment for hydrocephalus in children.
- The impact of shunted hydrocephalus on non-verbal intelligence requires further definition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize non-verbal intelligence deficits in children aged 3-7 years with shunted hydrocephalus.
- To compare the non-verbal cognitive abilities of children with shunted hydrocephalus to a control group.
- To inform educational strategies for children affected by shunted hydrocephalus.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, randomized, single-blinded study was conducted.
- Thirty children with shunted hydrocephalus (study group) and 30 children with cardiac conditions (control group) aged 3-7 years were assessed.
- Non-verbal intelligence was evaluated using eight subtests from the Junior South African Individual Scales (JSAIS).
Main Results:
- Significant differences in non-verbal intelligence were observed between the shunted hydrocephalus and control groups across all eight JSAIS subtests.
- Children with shunted hydrocephalus demonstrated deficits in spatial orientation, perceptual planning and organization, emotive processing, abstract thinking, and visual conceptualization.
- These findings indicate specific cognitive impairments in children with shunted hydrocephalus.
Conclusions:
- Children with shunted hydrocephalus exhibit distinct deficits in specific areas of non-verbal intelligence compared to controls.
- Further research is necessary to fully understand the long-term effects of ventriculoperitoneal shunting on non-verbal cognitive development.
- Addressing the identified special educational needs of children with shunted hydrocephalus is crucial.
Objective:
To define non-verbal intelligence deficits in children 3-7 years of age following shunted hydrocephalus (HCP).
Design:
Prospective randomised single-blinded study. Thirty shunted HCP (study) and 30 cardiac (control) patients between the ages of 3 and 7 years were compared on eight non-verbal subtests of the Junior South African Individual Scales (JSAIS).
Setting:
Department of Neurosurgery at Wentworth Hospital, Durban, South Africa.
Results:
Significant differences between the HCP and cardiac groups were recorded on all eight subtests of the JSAIS. The HCP group experienced problems with spatial orientation, perceptual planning and organisation, emotive deficits, abstract thinking and visual concepts.
Conclusion:
All patients with shunted HCP had specific deficiencies in defined cognitive areas of non-verbal intelligence when compared with the controls. Further studies are warranted to determine the effects of ventriculoperitoneal shunting on non-verbal intelligence so that the special educational needs of HCP children may be met.