Heart Birth Defects May Have Lasting Effect Latest Healthy Kids
News Children Born With Heart Defects Need Early Screening for
Developmental Disorders By Jennifer Warner Reviewed by Hansa D.
Bhargava, MD But a new review of research from 1966 to 2011
suggests certain types of heart defects may be more problematic
in the long run. Heart defects affect about nine out of every
1,000 babies born in the U.S., and about 85% of these infants
survive into adulthood. Researchers say children born with heart
defects are more likely to have difficulty in school, behavior
issues, poor social skills, or language and speech problems
because of a variety of developmental disorders affecting their
brain function. But early screening and prompt treatment can
help. "If we identify developmental problems earlier, we're
going to help prevent issues from coming up in school that
prevent these children from achieving their fullest potential,"
researcher Bradley S. Marino, MD, associate professor of
pediatrics at the University of