Children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia are at risk for lower levelsof cognitive functioning and increased emotional and behavioral problems

The physical. psychological, and social functioning of 11 children aged 8 t o 12 years with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) was assessed with sev eral standardized assessment procedures. Physically, most children function ed well at follow-up with half of the children showing minor physical probl ems such as bronchial hyperreactivity. The mean IQ of the children was 15 p oints (1 SD) below the norm of 100. Only 6 children were at expected school level. The children showed more emotional and behavioral problems than in the general population as reported by parents and teachers. The children th emselves reported more depressive problems, but not a lower self-esteem tha n children in the general population. These results were confirmed by the r esults of interviews with parents and children concerning psychosocial func tioning. It is concluded that children with CDH show more cognitive and learning pro blems and increased rates of emotional and behavioral problems compared to children in the general population. Since no children treated with Extra Co rporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) were involved in this study, the earlie r reports that lower cognitive functioning is limited to children with CDH treated with ECMO can not be confirmed by this study. Considering the resul ts of this study, there is a need for further follow-up studies concerning the long-term psychological and social functioning of children with CDH.