Neuropsychological evaluation of the hydrocephalic children: review of the literature

Abstract

Hydorcephalus is neurological and neurophsychological syndrom which is secondary to overloading of the cerebrospinal fluid which makes to enlarge cerebral ventricles. Therefore neurological smptoms usually could be seen together with some neuropyschological difficulties in motor, visual motor, visual perceptual, attention, verbal, and executive functions. These difficulties could negatively effect to the academical and socio-cultural skills of the patients, and will spread out their whole lifetime. So, cognitive deteriorations of these patients should be diagnosed properly; and appropriate treatment and rehabilitation programs should be applied early. Basic aim of this study is to define the cognitive difficulties of the hydrocephalic children. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2010; 11:68-75)