How Long Do Developmental Delays Associated with Positional Plagiocephaly Last?

Children with moderate-to-severe positional plagiocephaly showed lower cognitive, math, and reading scores at primary school ages.

Positional plagiocephaly (PP) occurs in 20%–30% of infants and predicts higher risk for developmental delays in the toddler years. However, whether developmental outcomes are affected later in childhood, when cognitive and academic demands increase, is unclear.

In a longitudinal study, investigators at a craniofacial specialty clinic followed 179 children with PP and 141 healthy children (controls) from infancy through school age. The severity of PP (mild or moderate-to-severe) was assessed based on three-dimensional surface imaging of children's heads in infancy. When children were aged ≥7 years (mean age, 9 years), they completed standardized tests of cognition and academic achievement.

Overall, children with PP had cognitive and academic s…

Reviewing Author

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

How Long Do Developmental Delays Associated with Positional Plagiocephaly Last?

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Reviewing Author