|  | Family Health | Childrens Health

Long-Term Effects of PVL

Periventricular leukomalacia, or PVL, is a condition affecting fetuses and newborns. When the areas surrounding the brain ventricles do not get enough oxygen, parts of the brain lose function or can die. The suffix "malacia" means softening. There may or may not be noticeable symptoms and making a diagnosis can be difficult. The condition is most often seen in premature babies. Those affected by the condition have short-term and long-term effects that range from mild to severe.

  1. Physical Development

    • Because PVL affects the white matter that is responsible for conveying nerve signals between the brain and spinal cord, PVL can lead to trouble with movement and muscle activity. Infants may fail to crawl, sit or stand as they should. Children affected might have tight or spastic muscular activity. Muscles also might be sluggish and nonresponsive. Children may not be able to coordinate fine and gross motor movements. Motor disorders and even cerebral palsy can be long-term effects, especially if physical development is not closely monitored.

    Mental Development

    • Depending upon which parts of the brain were affected by the PVL in the fetus or newborn, the baby may have delayed mental development as he grows. He might not pick up verbal or thinking skills in a normal developmental time frame, have intellectual deficits or have trouble learning. Acquiring new skills takes longer than for nonaffected children.

    Vision Problems

    • The lack of oxygen to specific areas of the brain might cause vision and hearing difficulties. Vision issues can include cerebral visual impairment, loss of parts of the field of vision, atrophy, squinting and a nystagmus, according to V.I. Scotland, an organization that provides support for visually impaired children. With cerebral visual impairment, the condition does not usually worsen but it does make recognizing objects difficult.

    Hearing Disturbances

    • Loss of hearing is also associated with PVL if associated areas of the brain were affected. The hearing impairment will affect the child's ability to talk or develop language skills in general. The hearing loss needs to be treated separately from other PVL issues and will not worsen as a result of PVL.

Childrens Health - Related Articles