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Neurologic, cognitive, and linguistic features of infants after early stroke
B B Wulfeck1, D A Trauner, P A Tallal
1Department of Pediatrics, University of California, School of Medicine, La Jolla, San Diego 92093-0631P.
Insights
Early unilateral cerebral infarction in infants did not significantly delay motor development but affected psychomotor and language skills. Lesion severity correlated with hemiparesis in children.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Early localized, unilateral cerebral infarction affects infants.
- Neurologic status, psychomotor, cognitive, and language abilities require examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the neurologic status of children with early unilateral cerebral infarction.
- To investigate psychomotor, cognitive, and language abilities in affected children.
- To examine relationships between behavior and lesion severity.
Main Methods:
- Neurologic examination.
- Bayley Scales of Infant Development.
- Sequenced Inventory of Communication Development.
Main Results:
- Motor development was not significantly delayed, despite hemiparesis correlating with lesion severity.
- No marked delay in global cognitive functioning was observed.
- One-half of the children showed psychomotor delay, and one-half showed receptive and/or expressive language delay.
Conclusions:
- Early unilateral cerebral infarction can lead to psychomotor and language delays in infants and toddlers.
- Hemiparesis severity correlates with lesion severity.
- Further research is needed to understand long-term impacts.
Abstract:
Fourteen infants who suffered early localized, unilateral cerebral infarction were studied to examine the neurologic status of these children, to investigate psychomotor, cognitive, and language abilities, and to examine relationships between behavior and lesion severity. The patients underwent a neurologic examination and were evaluated with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the Sequenced Inventory of Communication Development. Motor development was not significantly delayed despite the presence of hemiparesis in most infants (which correlated with lesion severity). There was no evidence of marked delay in global cognitive functioning but one-half of the children were delayed in psychomotor functioning. Evidence of receptive and/or expressive language delay also was observed in one-half of infants and toddlers.