The Language and Working Memory Abilities of Children with Sickle Cell Disease with and without Silent Cerebral Infarct: A Preliminary Study

摘要

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a recessive inherited blood disorder that can cause a sequelae of central nervous system complications. Recent studies have suggested that 22% of all school-aged children with SCD (hemoglobin SS) will experience a silent cerebral infarct (SCI) in the absence of any overt neurological orphysical symptoms before their 14th birthday (Adams, 2001; Armstrong, et al., 1996; DeBaun, et al., 1998). Approximately 75% of these children will demonstrate neuropsychological deficits that can have a devastating impact on their academic achievement (Steen, 2003; Schatz, 2004; Nettles, 1994).