School readiness in children with HIE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
School readiness in children who underwent hypothermia treatment for neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy
IRAS ID
164250
Contact name
Brigitte Vollmer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 1 months, 28 days
Research summary
The proposed project aims to investigate the long term outcome of children who received hypothermia treatment (“brain cooling”) after being starved of oxygen around the time of birth. Babies who are born under such difficult conditions are at high risk for brain injury and long term neurological and neurodevelopmental impairment. “Brain cooling” is a fairly recent neuroprotective intervention, which has now become standard care in the majority of neonatal centres, and has been shown to reduce severe disability and mortality at toddler age. However, there is very little long term outcome data beyond toddler age, and the available data are partly inconclusive. We will examine whether brain cooled children differ from typically developing children on measures of general health, and on cognitive and behavioural measures that are important for school readiness and school success.
We will study children who underwent brain cooling as newborns at Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton and who are now between 4-7 years old. We will, in line with other studies, assess their general abilities, but we will also assess more specific aspects of cognition, behaviour, and neuromotor function, which are highly relevant for school readiness and school success, as well as for everyday functioning and peer relationships.
The proposed project aims to address some important gaps in the existing research on long term effects of neonatal brain cooling. As well as providing important information on long term outcomes that are important for everyday functioning and school success, it will raise awareness of behavioural and educational difficulties that a large proportion of these children are likely to encounter.REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0292
Date of REC Opinion
15 Apr 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion