Only 5-15% of sickle cell disease (SCD) populations are affected by frank stroke which occur in the juvenile period. Yet in young SCD patients, a higher percentage of significant neurological, psychological and developmental deficits are seen which interferes with normal educational progress. The present study is to firmly document neurological, psychological, developmental, language, radiological and educational deficits in children with SCD who are between 3 and 8 years of age, both prior to and following educational intervention. These so-called non-handicapped young patients actually have subtle neurological, developmental, psychological and radiological abnormalities. These abnormalities interfere with ideal educational advancement unless specific early educational and developmental interventions are accomplished.
Our specific aims are to study SCD patients between the age of 3 and 8 years with neurological (NEX), psychological (PEX), developmental (DEX), language (LEX), transcranial doppler (TCD), and MRI volumetric (MRIV) studies, prior to and after educational intervention. Specially constructed remedial educational programs will be used on one half of the patients (randomly selected). Sixteen to forty SCD patients will be studied every year, until completion of the study. The long term objectives of this research are to recognize the pre-school handicaps which occur in sickle cell patients and to develop proper pre- school and school interventions to contribute to further academic, employment and lifestyle achievement.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 54 publications
