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Published on: July 9, 2016
Visual, motor and perceptual abilities at school age in children with isolated mild antenatal ventricular dilatation
Francesca Colitto1, Flaviana Bianco, Rita Luciano
1Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Insights
Children with mild isolated prenatal ventricular dilatation showed no significant neurological or perceptual issues at school age. This study assessed motor and visual function, finding normal development in most participants.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
- Prenatal Imaging
- Child Neurology
Background:
- Prenatal ventriculomegaly detection causes parental anxiety regarding potential neurological deficits.
- Previous research focused on early childhood; school-age assessments are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate minor neurological signs and perceptual-visual function in school-aged children with isolated mild antenatal ventricular dilatation.
- To provide a systematic assessment of neurodevelopmental outcomes at school age.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen children with mild antenatal ventricular dilatation were assessed at school age (5-11 years).
- Evaluations included a structured neurological exam for minor neurological signs and specific tests for perceptual-motor abilities (VMI, MABC).
Main Results:
- Only one child (1/17) exhibited abnormal results across all assessments.
- Sixteen children demonstrated normal neurological, perceptual, and visual function.
- Outcomes were independent of dilatation severity, symmetry, or neonatal scan findings.
Conclusions:
- Mild isolated prenatal ventricular dilatation does not appear to predict motor or perceptual difficulties in school-aged children.
- The findings suggest a favorable neurodevelopmental prognosis for this cohort.
Background:
The detection of prenatal ventriculomegaly raises anxiety about possible neurological sequelae. A few studies have investigated possible neurodevelopmental sequelae in the first years after birth but no systematic assessment has been performed at school age.
Aims:
The aim of this study was to assess minor neurological signs, perceptual and visual function in a cohort of children with isolated mild antenatal ventricular dilatation examined at school age.
Study Design:
Seventeen children with evidence of mild antenatal ventriculomegaly in the second and third trimester of pregnancy were included in the study.
Outcome Measures:
Children were assessed at school age (range 5 years 3 months-11 years, 11 months) using a structured neurological examination for minor neurological signs and age specific tests assessing perceptual motor abilities (Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration; Movement Assessment Battery for Children).
Results:
Only one of the 17 children had abnormal results. The remaining 16 had normal results on all the tests, irrespective of the magnitude and the symmetry of the dilatation or of its evolution on neonatal scan.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that children who had mild isolated prenatal ventricular dilatation are unlikely to develop even minor motor or perceptual difficulties at school age.
