How hydrocephalus may affect learning and behaviour. Hydrocephalus
can affect children’s concentration, working memory, understanding of language and their processing of information
. All of these, potentially, can have an impact on behaviour. If you can’t remember instructions then you won’t be able to carry them out.
Does hydrocephalus affect personality?
irritability.
changes in personality
or cognition including memory loss.
Does hydrocephalus affect mental health?
Hydrocephalus can be overwhelming and emotionally challenging. It is a chronic condition that requires ongoing management, which has an impact on
the emotional and mental well being
of the person living with the condition as well as their loved ones.
Does hydrocephalus cause anger issues?
Without knowing why, a child or young person with
hydrocephalus could become really upset or angry with someone
. It’s not always about the other person. It can be about feeling lost when they can’t work out what is going on or how to make it better.
Can hydrocephalus cause mood swings?
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) may present with its classic progressive triad (abnormal gait, ataxic/apractic dementia and urinary incontinence) [1], as paranoid psychosis [2, 3] or as a mood disorder, such as depressive episodes, manic episodes [4–6], or mood cycling [7, 8].
Does hydrocephalus shorten life?
What is the life expectancy of a child who has hydrocephalus? Children often have a full life span if hydrocephalus is caught early and treated. Infants who undergo surgical treatment to reduce the excess fluid in the brain and survive to age
1 will not have a shortened life expectancy due to hydrocephalus
.
Does hydrocephalus go away?
Hydrocephalus is a chronic condition.
It can be controlled, but usually not cured
. With appropriate early treatment, however, many people with hydrocephalus lead normal lives with few limitations. Hydrocephalus can occur at any age, but is most common in infants and adults age 60 and older.
What is the main cause of hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus is caused by
an imbalance between how much cerebrospinal fluid is produced and how much is absorbed into the bloodstream
. Cerebrospinal fluid is produced by tissues lining the ventricles of the brain. It flows through the ventricles by way of interconnecting channels.
What are the long term effects of hydrocephalus?
This can cause several long-term complications, such as:
learning disabilities
.
speech problems
.
memory problems
.
Is hydrocephalus considered a disability?
You
cannot get disability automatically
for hydrocephalus because it is not a specifically listed condition in Social Security’s “blue book” of listed impairments.
Can a person with hydrocephalus live a normal life?
If left untreated, hydrocephalus can be fatal. Early diagnosis and successful treatment improve the chance for a good recovery. With the benefits of surgery, rehabilitative therapies, and educational interventions, many people with
hydrocephalus live relatively normal lives
.
How long can adults live with hydrocephalus?
Survival in untreated hydrocephalus is poor. Approximately, 50% of the affected patients die before three years of age and
approximately 80% die before reaching adulthood
. Treatment markedly improves the outcome for hydrocephalus not associated with tumors, with 89% and 95% survival in two case studies.
Does hydrocephalus cause dementia?
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a neurological disorder that
causes dementia
. It’s characterized by walking abnormalities, dementia, and impaired bladder control.
How old is the oldest person with hydrocephalus?
The longest living hydrocephalic is Theresa Alvina Schaan (Canada) who was born on the
17 March 1941
and diagnosed with having congenital hydrocephalus.
Can hydrocephalus be treated without surgery?
Hydrocephalus is usually treated by placing an
extracranial CSF shunt
. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy, however, has been revived recently as a less invasive method for treatment.
Can a child outgrow hydrocephalus?
In most cases, the implantation of a shunt will successfully control hydrocephalus, but shunts do not cure hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a lifelong condition. However, with proper treatment and maintenance,
children with hydrocephalus can lead normal lives with few limitations
.
