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Updated: Sep 13, 2026
The Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Model of Perinatal Ischemia
Published on: November 19, 2008
Long-term neuropsychological and behavioral outcome of mild and moderate hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
Stephen Halpin1, Chris McCusker1, Leanna Fogarty2
1School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Insights
Adolescents surviving mild to moderate hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) show lasting challenges. These survivors experience significant difficulties in attention, reasoning, and social interactions into adolescence.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Outcomes for adolescents surviving mild to moderate hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) are not well-documented.
- HIE can impact brain development and function in infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neuropsychological and behavioral outcomes in adolescents with mild to moderate HIE.
- To compare outcomes of HIE survivors to healthy siblings and peers.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 23 adolescents with mild-moderate HIE history and age-matched sibling/peer controls.
- Administered various neuropsychological tests (WISC-V, NEPSY, etc.).
- Assessed behavioral adjustment using Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and Child Behavior Checklist.
Main Results:
- No significant differences between mild and moderate HIE groups.
- HIE adolescents scored lower on attention, executive functioning, verbal reasoning, and sensory-motor skills.
- HIE group had more school support, peer problems, and reduced competencies.
Conclusions:
- Mild and moderate HIE survivors face ongoing neuropsychological, academic, and social challenges in adolescence.
- Early HIE has long-term effects on cognitive and behavioral development.
Background:
Outcomes for infants who survive mild-moderate hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) into adolescence is relatively uncharted.
Aims:
We examined neuropsychological and behavioral outcomes in adolescents with mild and moderate HIE, using both parent and self - informants, and including healthy peers and nearest age siblings as controls.
Participants:
23 adolescents with a history of mild-moderate HIE (M age = 14.45 years, SD = 1.03; 14 boys and 9 girls) were recruited from an original cohort of 53. A group of their nearest - age siblings (n = 13), and healthy peers (n = 14) were recruited as controls.
Outcome Measures:
A number of neuropsychological sub-tests, taken from the WISC-V.UK, Children's Memory Scale, NEPSY, WIAT-III.UK, Rey Complex Figure Copy Test and British Picture Vocabulary Scale were administered. Behavioral adjustment was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the competence subscales of the Child Behavior Checklist.
Results:
No differences in neuropsychological and behavioral outcomes were observed between mild and moderate HIE cohorts. Together they had significantly lower scores on tests of attention/executive functioning, verbal reasoning and sensory-motor ability compared to healthy peers, with moderate to large effect sizes. Remedial provision at school was greater in the HIE group. Parents reported elevated levels of peer problems in the HIE group compared to both siblings and healthy peers. Reduced competencies were also observed.
Conclusions:
We found evidence that both mild and moderate survivors of HIE experience neuropsychological, school and peer relationship problems in adolescence.
