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Visual, cognitive, and neurodevelopmental outcome at 51/2 years in children with perinatal haemorrhagic-ischaemic
B M Van den Hout1, P Eken, D Van der Linden
1Department of Paediatric Neurology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Insights
Early visual and neurocognitive assessments accurately predict long-term outcomes in children with perinatal brain lesions. Combining these with ultrasound findings offers valuable predictive insights for visual acuity and neurodevelopment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Perinatal brain lesions can impact child development.
- Early identification of at-risk children is crucial for timely intervention.
- Ultrasound is a common tool for detecting brain abnormalities in newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the predictive value of early visual and neurocognitive assessments.
- To assess children with perinatally acquired brain lesions (hemorrhagic or ischemic).
- To correlate early findings with outcomes at 5 1/2 years.
Main Methods:
- Followed 63 children with perinatal brain lesions identified via ultrasound.
- Conducted visual and neurocognitive assessments at 18 months.
- Reexamined children at 5 1/2 years for long-term outcome evaluation.
- Correlated early assessment data with later developmental outcomes.
Main Results:
- Strong correlations were observed between assessments at 18 months and 5 1/2 years.
- Combined ultrasound data with early assessments yielded good predictive values.
- Predictions were particularly strong for visual acuity and neurodevelopment in children with grade 2-4 leukomalacia.
Conclusions:
- Early visual and neurocognitive assessments are valuable predictors of neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Integrating ultrasound findings enhances predictive accuracy for children with perinatal brain lesions.
- These findings support early screening and intervention strategies for affected children.
Abstract:
To determine predictive values of early visual and neurocognitive assessment in children with perinatally acquired haemorrhagic or ischaemic brain lesions selected on the basis of ultrasound, 63 children (37 boys, 26 girls), who had been followed and examined until the age of 18 months, were reexamined at 5 1/2 years. Good correlations between visual and neurodevelopmental assessments at 18 months and at 5 1/2 years were found. When ultrasound abnormalities were combined with early visual and neurocognitive assessment data, good predictive values, especially for the group of children who had grade 2 to 4 leukomalacia, were found for visual acuity and neurodevelopment.