Social functioning following pediatric stroke: contribution of neurobehavioral impairment

Pediatric stroke can result in long-term neurobehavioral impairments including cognitive, language, and motor deficits, all of which may disrupt the normal development of social skills. This study aimed to examine specific components of social function at 5-year poststroke at a group and individual level and explore the contribution of neurobehavioral impairment. Thirty-one children with arterial ischemic stroke participated in the study. Assessment included parent-rated questionnaires measuring social adjustment and social participation as well as behavior and fatigue. Children underwent testing of social cognition and neurobehavioral abilities (intellectual function, attention, pragmatic language, motor function, and neurological impairment). Group means for social function were generally within the normal range, with social adjustment poorer than normative expectations. Examination of impairment rates showed a significant proportion of children had impaired function across social domains. Childhood stroke was associated with poorer social adjustment and a range of neurobehavioral outcomes, compared to neonatal stroke. Social function was found to be impacted by fatigue and intellectual function, but not by attention, pragmatic language, behavior, motor function, or neurological impairment.