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European Journal of Pediatrics
Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics 7/2007

Open Access 01-07-2007 | Review

Long-term cognitive and behavioral consequences of neonatal encephalopathy following perinatal asphyxia: a review

Authors: Mariëlle van Handel, Hanna Swaab, Linda S. de Vries, Marian J. Jongmans

Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 7/2007

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Abstract

Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) following perinatal asphyxia (PA) is considered an important cause of later neurodevelopmental impairment in infants born at term. This review discusses long-term consequences for general cognitive functioning, educational achievement, neuropsychological functioning and behavior. In all areas reviewed, the outcome of children with mild NE is consistently positive and the outcome of children with severe NE consistently negative. However, children with moderate NE form a more heterogeneous group with respect to outcome. On average, intelligence scores are below those of children with mild NE and age-matched peers, but within the normal range. With respect to educational achievement, difficulties have been found in the domains reading, spelling and arithmetic/mathematics. So far, studies of neuropsychological functioning have yielded ambiguous results in children with moderate NE. A few studies suggest elevated rates of hyperactivity in children with moderate NE and autism in children with moderate and severe NE. Conclusion: Behavioral monitoring is required for all children with NE. In addition, systematic, detailed neuropsychological examination is needed especially for children with moderate NE.
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Metadata
Title
Long-term cognitive and behavioral consequences of neonatal encephalopathy following perinatal asphyxia: a review
Authors
Mariëlle van Handel
Hanna Swaab
Linda S. de Vries
Marian J. Jongmans
Publication date
01-07-2007
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 7/2007
Print ISSN: 0340-6199
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1076
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-007-0437-8

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