Improving Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children with Congenital Heart Disease: An Intervention Study

Neurodevelopmental ND disabilities, particularly executive function impairments, are currently the most prevalent, and arguably the most distressing, long-term morbidity in the burgeoning population with congenital heart disease CHD. Deficits in executive function pose serious threats to the educational achievement and consequent future employability, insurability and quality of life of millions of children with CHD. These adverse sequelae carry profound clinical and financial implications. While accumulating evidence exists on the deficits of patients with CHD, research evaluating effective therapeutic strategies is notably absent. The Cogmed intervention has been shown to improve executive function in several pediatric populations, but has not been studied in the CHD population.