The blink reflex in hydrocephalic infants and children

The blink reflex (orbicularis oculi reflex) was studied electromyographically in 5 children ranging in age from 2 months to 15 years and in 5 age-matched children with advanced hydrocephalus. All the hydrocephalic children demonstrated: (a) prolonged reflex response latencies compared with mean values for the age-matched controls; (b) a decrease in the response latencies following a shunting procedure and habituation of the reflex postoperatively; and (c) failure of the reflex to habituate for the shunting procedure. Study of the blink reflex in hydrocephalic infants at risk of cerebral damage can be a useful way of detecting dysfunction and monitoring response to therapy.