A long-term follow-up study of pediatric patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal encephalopathy found that neurodevelopmental issues, particularly motor skills, cognition, and behavior, often emerged or worsened by age 8 to 10 years, even when early assessments were normal. Motor performance declined nonlinearly over time, cognitive outcomes were stable in most children, but behavioral issues, internalizing symptoms, and additional late-onset conditions such as epilepsy and hearing impairment became more prominent with age. Early developmental testing did not reliably predict later difficulties, emphasizing the importance of sustained follow-up and ongoing monitoring for timely intervention and support.

Source: The Journal of Pediatrics