Hydrocephalus can
cause loss of motor function
in any part of the body. The disability listing for central nervous system vascular incidents may apply if you have brain damage from the hydrocephalus that caused speech problems or difficulty walking or using your arms and hands.
Is hydrocephalus considered a brain injury?
Hydrocephalus ex vacuo is the result of the ventricles enlarging to compensate for loss of brain tissue. This can happen as a result of another
form of acquired brain injury
, such as a stroke or traumatic injury. Arrested hydrocephalus can occur in people who have a minor blockage in the CSF flow.
Is hydrocephalus a chronic illness?
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 life expectancy of someone 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.
Is hydrocephalus considered special needs?
Among the special needs adoptive parents may encounter is Hydrocephalus, or hydrocephaly. Hydrocephalus is an abnormal accumulation of spinal fluid in the brain, once informally called “water on the brain.” It is a relatively
rare
condition, impacting perhaps 1 to 2 of every 1,000 babies born.
Does hydrocephalus affect memory?
Among adults 60 years of age and older, the more common signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus are: Loss of bladder control or a frequent urge to urinate.
Memory loss
. Progressive loss of other thinking or reasoning skills.
Can a person with hydrocephalus drive?
Hydrocephalus typically affects
visual acuity, coordination, judgment, and concentration
, all of the skills which are necessary to drive. Just learning how to coordinate between controlling the steering wheel and applying the accelerator or brake can be a daunting task when you have poor motor skills.
Can hydrocephalus cause personality changes?
NPH patients may develop symptoms with
frontal dominance
, such as personality changes, anxiety, depression, psychotic syndromes, obsessive compulsive disorder, Othello syndrome; shoplifting and mania. Unusual appearances of NPH symptoms may hinder early diagnosis and consequently proper treatment.
Can you recover from hydrocephalus?
Recovery from normal pressure hydrocephalus is
possible with shunt surgery
, but improvement varies from person to person. Walking problems, mild dementia, and bladder control issues usually show some improvement within days after surgery.
What are the long term effects of hydrocephalus?
This can cause several long-term complications, such as:
learning disabilities
.
speech problems
.
memory problems
.
How long is hospital stay for shunt surgery?
The actual surgical procedure to implant a shunt typically requires about an hour in the operating room. Afterward, you will be carefully observed for 24 hours. Your stay in the hospital will generally be for
two to four days total
.
How long is surgery to remove fluid from brain?
Shunt surgery is done by a specialist in brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeon). It’s done under a general anaesthetic and usually takes
1 to 2 hours
. You may need to stay in hospital for a few days after the operation to recover. If you have stitches, they may dissolve or need to be removed.
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.
Does hydrocephalus affect intelligence?
The common outcome of early hydrocephalus is an
uneven growth of intelligence during childhood
, with nonverbal intelligence developing less well than verbal intelligence.
Does hydrocephalus make you tired?
Hydrocephalus can be the cause of headaches as well as some loss of both coordination and balance, seizures, and impaired vision. Another of the physical symptoms is also
sleepiness
, although many have difficulty falling and staying asleep due to headaches or pain.
Why is hydrocephalus more serious in adults?
When hydrocephalus occurs in adults, CSF levels rise but the amount of pressure is usually normal. It still causes the brain to swell and
can lead to impaired functioning
. In adults, this condition usually results from conditions that prevent CSF from flowing.
