Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Isolation of Leukocytes from Human Breast Milk for Use in an Antibody-dependent Cellular Phagocytosis Assay of HIV Targets
08:12

Isolation of Leukocytes from Human Breast Milk for Use in an Antibody-dependent Cellular Phagocytosis Assay of HIV Targets

Published on: September 6, 2019

The extent of delay of language, motor, and cognitive development in HIV-positive infants

Nicole Baillieu1, Joanne Potterton

  • 1Department of Physiotherapy, School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, South Africa. nicole.baillieu@wits.ac.za

Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy : JNPT
|November 4, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) experience significant delays in cognitive and motor skills. Gross motor skills are most affected, with most children showing global language delay, impacting overall development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can impact neurological development in children.
  • Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has transformed HIV management, but developmental outcomes in treated children require ongoing assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the extent of delays in language, cognitive, and motor skill acquisition among children with HIV.
  • To identify specific developmental domains most affected by HIV infection in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • Assessment of 40 HIV-positive, antiretroviral-naive children aged 18-30 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (BSID II).
  • Descriptive analysis of cognitive, language, and motor development using facet scoring.
  • Determination of mental and motor delays using BSID II Mental and Psychomotor Developmental Indices.

Main Results:

  • Significant mean delays observed: 7.63 months for cognitive and 9.65 months for motor development (P < 0.001).
  • 97.5% of children functioned below expected age norms for motor and cognitive skills.
  • 85% demonstrated gross motor delay, the most affected area, and 82.5% showed global language delay.

Conclusions:

  • Cognitive delays may stem from HIV disease progression and brain damage; language delays may relate to neurological impairment, cognitive deficits, or environmental factors.
  • Gross motor deficits could be linked to reduced strength or HIV encephalopathy.
  • Early physiotherapy referral is recommended for children with HIV to address identified gross motor deficits.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Rat Model of EcoHIV Brain Infection08:48

A Rat Model of EcoHIV Brain Infection

Published on: January 21, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Language Development01:22

Language Development

Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
Immunodeficiency Diseases01:25

Immunodeficiency Diseases

Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Learning Disabilities01:25

Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are cognitive disorders caused by neurological impairments that affect cognitive functions like language and reading, without indicating overall intellectual or developmental challenges. These disabilities differ from global intellectual or developmental disabilities as they are limited to distinct cognitive functions. Common learning disabilities include dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, each of which impacts unique aspects of learning.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...