Learning and memory profiles in youth with perinatal stroke: a study of the Child and Adolescent Memory Profile...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Pediatric Neurology

Background:

• Perinatal stroke (PS) impacts child development, with limited understanding of its effects on learning and memory.
• Assessing cognitive function in youth with PS is crucial for early intervention and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical utility of the Child and Adolescent Memory Profile (ChAMP) for quantifying memory performance in children and adolescents with perinatal stroke.
• To determine if ChAMP scores can differentiate between youth with and without perinatal stroke.

Main Methods:

• Forty-one children and adolescents (6-16 years) with a history of perinatal stroke completed two ChAMP subtests (Lists and Objects).
• Performance was compared to age, sex, and ethnicity-matched healthy control data from the ChAMP standardization sample.
• Statistical analyses examined group differences, effect sizes, and classification accuracy.

Main Results:

• Participants with perinatal stroke performed significantly worse than healthy controls on the ChAMP Screening Index and all Lists and Objects scaled scores.
• Classification accuracy ranged from 57-68%, with AUCs from .62-.75, indicating moderate discriminative ability.
• No significant differences in ChAMP performance were observed based on stroke side or seizure history.

Conclusions:

• The Child and Adolescent Memory Profile (ChAMP) demonstrates utility in identifying verbal and visual memory impairments in youth with perinatal stroke.
• While classification accuracy is limited, ChAMP scores, particularly the Screening Index and Objects Delayed, can be supportive in clinical evaluations.
• The ChAMP is a valuable tool for assessing cognition in pediatric perinatal stroke survivors when integrated with other clinical data.