Cognitive Function Assessment in School Aged Children with Chronic Lung Diseases Using Event Related Potential (P300) Versus Stanford - Binet Test

Abstract

Chronic chest troubles are the most common cause of chronic illnesses. They include bronchial asthma, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, ciliary dyskinesia and immune deficiency. They can affect the cognitive functions and psychosocial behavior of children. They may also affect the school performance of these children. Children with chronic chest troubles represent a population at possible high risk for mental and psychosocial maladjustment Children with chronic chest troubles have retarded weight and height compared to healthy children. This study was designed to assess the cognitive functions, school achievement in children suffering from chronic chest troubles and compare them with healthy children of same age and sex. This study was performed in the Pediatric Chest Clinic at Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University. The Study was carried out on 40 children, their age ranged between 5-15 years (mean age ± SD =9.33±3.0). They were suffering from chronic non-asthmatic chest troubles (bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, ciliary dyskinesia, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) as proved by full clinical examination, laboratory and radiological investigations. Children with other non-chest chronic diseases were excluded. Thirty other children not suffering from any disease and living under the same socioeconomic conditions were taken as healthy controls. The Arabic version of Stanford Binnet test 4th edition and P300 (Evoked related potential) were used to assess the cognitive and the academic performance among children. All subjects in this study were submitted to full history, complete clinical examination including (chast examination and Anthropometric measures), Radiological evaluation, spirometric tests, otological examination, Basic audiological evaluation (pure tone and speech audiometry and immittancemetry), P300 recording and psychological evaluation by stanford binnet test 4th edition. Our results indicated that chronic chest troubles have negative effects on cognitive abilities, and academic achievement of such children with mean IQ percentage for the study group was (80.6+-7.09) and the mean P300 latency was (342.67+-31.31). There were no statistical difference between children affected by Interstitial lung diseases and those affected by Bronchiectatic diseases as regards to the mentioned parameters. There was a significant difference between children with CLDs and healthy children as regard their cognitive functions by both P300 ERP test and Stanford Binnet intelligence test with correlation between the severity of the disease and cognitive affection by both tools.