However, if the asphyxial episode is severe, an infant may die, or survive with life-long neurologic disabilities, including cerebral palsy, mental retardation, vision and hearing impairments, and learning disabilities. Such problems may not necessarily show up until the infant is older, necessitating the need for long-term monitoring. Any infant who has experienced perinatal asphyxia should receive special developmental follow-up for the first few years of life. The goal of developmental follow-up for asphyxiated infants is the identification of potential neurologic and developmental problems with referral to appropriate interventional therapies at the earliest possible age. Oral-motor and swallowing difficulties may also occur in severely asphyxiated infants and interfere with normal feeding.
Some infants only exhibit problems as they experience increasing textures in their food.
The first sign may be unsatisfactory weight gain, as the infant has difficulty in consuming adequate calories. Additional examinations will be determined according to the type of problems identified. At this age, the higher cognitive areas of the brain are beginning to be used and can subsequently be assessed for any signs of damage. These assessments include evaluations of intellectual and behavioral skills, and of specific academic abilities at later ages. These evaluations should be expected to extend through school age as various areas of the brain continue to mature and be increasingly used with age.