Cognitive abilities of asphyxiated survivors beyond 5 years of age.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the intellectual, psychoeducational and social maturity of a cohort of unimpaired asphyxiated survivors beyond 5 years of age.


METHODS
Case control study on hospital based cohorts on a longitudinal follow up at High Risk and Well Baby Clinics of a teaching hospital.


METHODS
The demographic data of these children was recorded. A detailed physical examination was performed. The tests of cognition included the Stanford Binet and the Raven's Progressive matrices. Academic achievement was evaluated by the Wide range achievement test-Revised (WRAT-R). Assessment of visuo-motor integration was done by the Bender Gestalt Test. The proportion of children having soft neurological signs was determined. Vineland Social Maturity Scale was performed on all children.


RESULTS
Fifty-four asphyxiated and 57 matched control children participated in the study. Of the 54 asphyxiated children, 27 were tested at a mean age of 7.2 +/- 1.6 years (Group 1) and 27 were tested at a mean age of 10.9 +/- 1.52 years (Group 2). The asphyxiated children as a group performed in the normal range on tests of cognition and academic achievement but were significantly disadvantaged (p < 0.005) as compared to controls. A higher percentage of asphyxiated children had low scores on the Bender Gestalt Test as compared to controls but the difference was not significant. A significantly higher proportion of asphyxiated children of both the groups showed the presence of soft neurological signs as compared to controls. Approximately 11% of the asphyxiated children performed in the abnormal range in the Vineland Social Maturity Scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive abilities of asphyxiated children beyond the age of 5 years are impaired in comparison to controls, emphasizing the need for early detection and referral for special education.
Tandon
A
A
Department of Pediatrics, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India.
Ramji
S
S
Kumari
S
S
Goyal
A
A
Chandra
D
D
Nigam
V R
VR
D000293:Adolescent; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007360:Intelligence; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D017741:Survivors