摘要
Aim: To assess cognitive functions in a population-based group of children wi th hydrocephalus and to analyse differences between children with and without my elomeningo-coele (MMC); with hydrocephalus already present at birth and those who develop ed it later; children born at full term and those born preterm. Methods: Of 103 children with hydrocephalus born in the western-Swedish region in 1989-1993, 7 3 were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scales or the Griffith Developme ntal Scales. Results: One-third of the children were normally gifted (IQ > 85), another 30%had a low average IQ of 70-84 and 37%had learning disabilities wi th an IQ of < 70. The median IQ was 75, verbal IQ 90 and performance IQ 76 (p < 0.001). An IQ of < 70 was found in 19 of 45 (42%) children without MMC and in 8 of 28 (29%) of those with MMC. Children born preterm had a lower IQ of 68 than those born at full term with an IQ of 76, while children with hydrocephalus pre sent at birth but without MMC had a lower IQ of 60 than the others with an IQ of 77. Children with cerebral palsy and/or epilepsy (n = 22) had a lower IQ of 66 than the IQ of 78 in those without these impairments (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Cog nitive functions in children with hydrocephalus need to be carefully assessed be fore school age to ensure adequate support and education. Even the one-third ne ar normally gifted children with an IQ of 70-85 require special attention, due to the profile of relatively well-preserved verbal functions but greatly impair ed perceptual and non-verbal abilities.
Aim: To assess cognitive functions in a population-based group of children wi th hydrocephalus and to analyse differences between children with and without my elomeningo-coele (MMC); with hydrocephalus already present at birth and those who develop ed it later; children born at full term and those born preterm. Methods: Of 103 children with hydrocephalus born in the western-Swedish region in 1989-1993, 7 3 were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scales or the Griffith Developme ntal Scales. Results: One-third of the children were normally gifted (IQ > 85), another 30%had a low average IQ of 70-84 and 37%had learning disabilities wi th an IQ of < 70. The median IQ was 75, verbal IQ 90 and performance IQ 76 (p < 0.001). An IQ of < 70 was found in 19 of 45 (42%) children without MMC and in 8 of 28 (29%) of those with MMC. Children born preterm had a lower IQ of 68 than those born at full term with an IQ of 76, while children with hydrocephalus pre sent at birth but without MMC had a lower IQ of 60 than the others with an IQ of 77. Children with cerebral palsy and/or epilepsy (n = 22) had a lower IQ of 66 than the IQ of 78 in those without these impairments (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Cog nitive functions in children with hydrocephalus need to be carefully assessed be fore school age to ensure adequate support and education. Even the one-third ne ar normally gifted children with an IQ of 70-85 require special attention, due to the profile of relatively well-preserved verbal functions but greatly impair ed perceptual and non-verbal abilities.
