We report the neurological, intellectual and visual outcome of 77 children with hydrocephalus of non tumoral origin. Neurological deficits and epilepsy were common, particularly in those with severe intellectual deficit and with acquired brain damages. Intellectual level prognosis was usually good, although lower than in a healthy population: 75% of children had full intellectual quotient (FIQ) higher than 70 but often, there was an heterogeneous pattern of the IQ with greater differences between verbal and performance results because of poor visual-spatial skills. Attention and syntax comprehension of language disabilities were also specifically encountered. Meningitis or toxoplasmosis secondary to hydrocephalus often resulted in a poor intelligence level but other causes did not influence intelligence level or pattern. Visual-spatial deficits, attention disorders and language disabilities did not seem related to the degree of hydrocephalus or the delay before shunting, but were especially encountered when ventricular dilatation persisted in spite of the operation. Functional amblyopias were frequent, certainly related to strabismus. Optic atrophy was rare and linked to direct compression of the optic nerves or to major and repeated episodes of intracranial hypertension.

Arch Fr Pediatr. 1987 Dec;44(10):849-54