Questions?Does Hydrocephalus Cause Developmental Delays?
Yes, hydrocephalus could cause your child to experience developmental delays as well as other serious complications.
Hydrocephalus develops when excess fluid builds up in a part of the brain called the ventricles. This creates pressure that leads to brain damage. Depending on the extent of the harm, your baby may not meet developmental milestones as quickly as others. They may even suffer cerebral palsy or other permanent disabilities.
- Not rolling over
- Not smiling
- Not standing
- Not talking
- Not walking
Hydrocephalus and the delays it can cause are sometimes preventable. Health care providers have a duty to provide proper care before, during, and shortly after birth. However, they may make mistakes that prevent hydrocephalus from being diagnosed or treated.
We’re here to support you and your family if your baby was harmed. Get a free case review now to find out if you may be able to pursue justice and compensation for hydrocephalus and developmental delays.
How Does Hydrocephalus Cause Developmental Delays?
Hydrocephalus develops when something called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulates in your baby’s brain. CSF normally cushions the brain and the spinal cord. If there’s excess fluid buildup, CSF flow can stop, putting pressure on the brain.
Without prompt treatment, brain tissue can be harmed and die. This can cause your child to experience developmental delays as they age. Which areas of the brain are affected and how bad the damage is will play a role in the delays your baby will experience.
Types of Hydrocephalus Developmental Delays by Age
As your baby gets older, you can look for developmental milestones. There are different milestones for specific age groups, ranging from 2 months to 5 years. If your child had hydrocephalus and failed to meet a milestone, they could have suffered a hydrocephalus developmental delay.
- 2 months: Smiling, looking at you, making noises other than crying, reacting to loud sounds, watching you, holding their head up, moving their arms or legs, and opening their hands.
- 6 months: Knowing family members, laughing, putting objects in the mouth, grabbing toys, and rolling from their stomach.
- 1 year: Saying first words, playing games with you, waving goodbye, knowing the word “no,” putting toys in containers, drinking from cups without lids, and pulling up to stand.
- 18 months: Pointing to things they’re interested in, looking at pages of books, helping with getting dressed, and following directions without gestures.
- 2 years: Reacting to others’ emotions, using gestures like nodding yes, playing with multiple toys at once, running, and kicking balls.
- 3 years: Asking questions, saying their first name if asked, avoiding touching hot objects like a stove, and using a fork.
- 5 years: Following rules during games with other kids, telling you stories, understanding basic rhymes, counting to 10, and starting to write.
If your child is not meeting these milestones, has regressed (losing a skill they once had), or is otherwise concerning you, reach out to a doctor promptly. Be sure to tell them if your baby has ever experienced hydrocephalus or another potential birth injury.
Causes of Hydrocephalus Developmental Delays
Pediatric hydrocephalus and the delays that it can lead to have many causes. Sometimes babies inherit problems like genetic disorders that trigger congenital hydrocephalus, which happens before they’re born.
However, other babies who would otherwise be healthy suffer from hydrocephalus and developmental delays due to medical malpractice. This occurs when health care providers fail to diagnose, prevent, or correctly treat problems that cause hydrocephalus.
- Delayed C-section
- Failure to detect or treat infections like meningitis
- Failure to diagnose internal bleeding in the brain
- Failure to diagnose or treat oxygen deprivation during birth
- Inadequately treating shoulder dystocia
- Not diagnosing brain tumors or spinal column tumors
- Not managing intraventricular hemorrhage (brain bleed)
- Not monitoring or treating premature labor
- Not safely using forceps or vacuum extractors
The medical providers who delivered your child had a duty to protect them from hydrocephalus and the developmental delays it can cause. If they failed to do so, you may be able to hold them accountable.
If you think your child’s developmental delays are due to preventable hydrocephalus, speak with our labor and delivery nurses now. They’ll listen to your story and help you move forward. There’s no cost to speak with them, and no pressure to take legal action.
Beth has more than 18 years of specialized experience in labor and delivery. She’s available to hear your story and help you figure out the cause of your child’s injury — and what you can do next.
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Call or chat with a caring, experienced nurse right now — we’re standing by to get you help and answers.
Diagnosing Hydrocephalus Developmental Delays
Health care providers can use imaging tests like X-rays and CT scans of the brain, and see which milestones a baby has missed, to diagnose your child and help them get treatment.
Always see a doctor promptly if your baby is showing potential symptoms of hydrocephalus. These may include swollen head size, a soft spot on the baby’s head, seizures, vomiting, fatigue, and other abnormalities.
However, doctors sometimes misdiagnose hydrocephalus or not detect it in newborns. In these cases, babies may not be diagnosed until after they suffer developmental delays.
Treating Hydrocephalus Developmental Delays
Doctors treat hydrocephalus by using a shunt to drain CSF and relieve intracranial pressure. Another one of the most common treatments is endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), a minor surgery that helps restore normal CSF flow.
“Your child’s provider may ask you questions or talk and play with your child during an exam. This shows how your child learns, speaks, behaves and moves.”
— Cleveland Clinic
From there, your baby will be monitored as they age for any developmental delays that they may experience as a result of the brain damage. This is known as developmental screening.
- Adaptive or assistive devices
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Other forms of support services
Your child’s health care providers can give you a better idea as to which treatments will be most appropriate depending on the delays that your child is suffering.
Hydrocephalus Developmental Delay Prognosis
Prognosis is the expected health outlook of a specific condition. Cleveland Clinic notes that many developmental delays do get better or resolve with time. However, it’s important to catch any delays, as well as underlying hydrocephalus, as soon as possible.
Hydrocephalus itself is a medical emergency and can lead to more complications. For example, fluid blockage in the brain can cause cerebral palsy, which is lifelong. Your baby may never meet certain milestones like talking or walking depending on its severity.
If your child is experiencing developmental delays or permanent disability due to preventable hydrocephalus, you have the right to file a birth injury lawsuit. Taking legal action can help you recover money to cover health care expenses and more.
Get a free legal case review right now to find out if you may qualify to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation.
Get Help for Hydrocephalus Developmental Delays
Knowing your child has developmental delays can be very worrying. It’s even more troublesome to know that, in some cases, hydrocephalus could have been prevented.
The medical team that delivered your baby should have done all they could to prevent, diagnose, and treat hydrocephalus. Yet, some health care providers make mistakes or act carelessly, causing babies to suffer needlessly.
In these cases, you may be able to work with our birth injury attorneys to afford the medical care your child deserves. Our legal partners have recovered over $1 billion for birth injuries and can assist families in all 50 states.
Call (800) 914-1562 or fill out our free case review form to learn if we may be able to help you and your child.
Hydrocephalus and Developmental Delays FAQs
Yes, hydrocephalus can cause your child to suffer developmental delays. Hydrocephalus is a type of brain damage, and serious cases can impact things like movement and speech.
Speak to your child’s pediatrician if you are worried that they are missing milestones like talking or walking. They can recommend options to address developmental delays and test for hydrocephalus.
Some kids may have learning disabilities due to hydrocephalus that is severe or not properly treated. However, if hydrocephalus is caught and treated promptly, children may not have any long-term problems with learning.
Yes, hydrocephalus may cause cognitive (mental) delays or issues depending on how badly the brain was damaged. This can lead to a variety of issues, such as your child not talking or reading as well as others their age.
However, pediatric treatments like speech and occupational therapy may help your child catch up to their peers and live a normal life.
Yes, doctors may be able to prevent hydrocephalus and the developmental delays the condition can cause with prompt medical treatment. It’s their job to monitor and manage issues that can cause hydrocephalus, ranging from infections to fetal distress.
While some cases of hydrocephalus are not preventable, the sad fact is that every year babies suffer this condition needlessly. Get a free case review now for help if you believe your child has suffered developmental delays as a result of hydrocephalus.
It may be possible for your child to outgrow the developmental delays caused by hydrocephalus, but there are no guarantees. Children tend to have a better health outlook if hydrocephalus and any delays are caught and addressed as soon as possible.
If hydrocephalus has caused a permanent disability like cerebral palsy, your child may need care for the rest of their life.
