Stroke

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or stroke, is any cerebrovascular injury caused by occlusion or rupture of cerebral blood vessels. Pediatric strokes are often defined according to the developmental stage in which they occur and by the mechanism of damage. Pediatric CVAs can be classified into three broad pathophysiologic subtypes, namely arterial ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and cerebral sinovenous thrombosis. Identifying stroke is challenging, especially in early childhood, as children often present with nonlocalizing, atypical, or nonspecific symptoms, although they may present with focal neurologic deficits similar to adults beyond early childhood. Due to lack of adequate data in the pediatric population, there are considerable controversies in treatment type, timing, and approach. As a member of the pediatric stroke rehabilitation team, the neuropsychologist plays a key role in the evaluation and management of the child’s injury from acute care to poststroke, long-term follow-up.