What Are The Symptoms Of Periventricular Leukomalacia?

Periventricular leukomalacia is a form of injury to the brain of a baby with a range of adverse effects related to motor skills and the nervous system. Periventricular leukomalacia most commonly occurs in babies with a very low birth weight or those born very prematurely. A baby's brain contains ventricles or chambers filled with cerebrospinal fluid. A substance called white matter sits in between the ventricles in the interior brain tissues that relays information between the individual's spinal cord and nerve cells. 

The white matter is also responsible for transmitting information from one region of the brain to another. Periventricular leukomalacia happens in babies when the white matter tissues have died or become damaged. The mechanism that precipitates periventricular leukomalacia is attributed to the absence of adequate blood flow during, before, and after birth.

Developmental Delay

An individual with periventricular leukomalacia can experience developmental delays in a physical or neurological domain. Developmental delay is a term used to describe when a child does not accomplish the developmental milestones expected of children of the same age. A developmental delay does not refer to when a child has a temporary lag behind other children of a similar age but refers to an ongoing minor or major delay in the development process. 

Periventricular leukomalacia can cause a child to have delays in physical development, such as in their gross and fine motor skills. It may also cause a child to experience delays in cognitive development or intellectual abilities. Communication development, like speech and language, may also be impacted by this condition. Development in the emotional and social realm, like emotional control and social skills, may present as delayed. Developmental delays can also occur with a child's adaptive development or their self-care skills.