Developmental Delay in Children with Congenital Heart Disease

Children with congenital heart disease, particularly congenital heart surgery survivors, are known to face important neurodevelopmental and psychosocial challenges throughout their life span. These difficulties are multifactorial in etiology and often affect multiple physical, educational, and mental health domains. Risk factors have been identified that can aid in appropriate screening, evaluation, referral, and treatment for those patients at highest risk. Surveillance, screening, and referral for formal evaluation are indicated at key periods of developmental transition. Helping families to partner with Early Intervention for younger children, school-based services for older children, and outpatient clinical supports for children of all ages is a crucial role of the cardiac care team to ensure appropriate services are in place to optimize outcome.