Neurodevelopmental Screening in Young Children with Sickle Cell Disease

It is important to prioritize screening and surveillance for neurodevelopmental dysfunction in children with SCD because this vulnerable population is at higher risk for neurological complications including stroke, silent cerebral infarction, and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) such as language disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The American Society of Hematology (ASH) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have published guidelines to accomplish this, as well as to improve quality of life for people with SCD and NDDs. Despite the recognition of the increased risk and the clinical guidelines, the co-occurrence rates of SCD and NDD remain lower than expected.