Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Understanding the neuropsychologic outcome of pediatric AVM within a neurodevelopmental framework
Kristine B Whigham1, Kathleen O'Toole
1Department of Neuropsychology, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30342, USA. Kristine.Whigham@choa.org
Insights
Children with repaired arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) often show executive function deficits, irrespective of AVM location. This highlights the need for targeted rehabilitation strategies in pediatric AVM care.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Previous studies indicated adequate emotional functioning but below-average adaptive skills and socialization concerns in children with repaired arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
- This case series builds on prior research by examining long-term neuropsychological outcomes in children with AVMs.
Observation:
- Five children with repaired AVMs in various brain regions underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessments.
- Evaluations covered intellectual, language, memory, motor, visual-perceptual, visual-motor, and executive functions.
Findings:
- Children demonstrated localized and remote neuropsychological deficits.
- Mild to moderate executive function weaknesses were observed consistently across participants, irrespective of the AVM's original location.
Implications:
- Executive function impairments in pediatric AVMs may stem from complex neural pathway involvement affecting the frontal lobes.
- Neuroplasticity and diaschisis could influence functional outcomes, suggesting the need for tailored rehabilitation strategies.
- Understanding these long-term effects is crucial for optimizing developmental trajectories and support for children with repaired AVMs.
Objective:
This case series describes the long-term neuropsychologic functioning of 5 children with repaired arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Results are presented within the context of a neurodevelopmental model to facilitate conceptualization and generate appropriate rehabilitation strategies for children with AVMs.
Background:
The current case series expands upon previous research examining the long-term psychosocial functioning of these children with AVMs in which it was found that overall emotional functioning appeared adequate, although there were suggestions of defensiveness and areas of worry. In addition, global adaptive functioning was below average for most children with parental concerns about their child's socialization.
Method:
Five children with repaired AVMs in the cerebellum and frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes participated in a neuropsychologic evaluation assessing intellectual, language, memory, motor, visual-perceptual and visual-motor, and executive functions.
Results:
These children demonstrated both localized and remote findings. More specifically, mild to moderate weaknesses in executive functions were suggested regardless of AVM location.
Conclusions:
The finding that children exhibited executive function difficulties regardless of AVM location is in keeping with the understanding of multiple cortical and subcortical pathways to and from the frontal lobes. In addition, it is possible that the processes of diaschisis and plasticity may play a role in the functional outcome of AVMs.
Related Concept Videos
01:01Neuroplasticity
01:21The Nativist Approach