The prognosis for NPH depends on the cause, the extent of symptoms and the timeliness of diagnosis and treatment. NPH symptoms typically worsen over time, and can even cause death, if left untreated.
However, shunt treatment helps most people recover almost completely while experiencing a good quality of life. According to the Life NPH website, if the cause of the NPH is known, the reported success rate for the shunting procedure can be as high as 80 percent. The success rate varies from 25 to 74 percent for NPH cases in which its cause is unknown.
In general, the earlier that NPH is diagnosed, the better the chance for successful treatment. The longer the symptoms have been present, the less likely it is that treatment will be successful.