A Study of 63 Cases of Athetosis with Special Reference to Hearing Defects

Abstract

In a previous communication (Asher and Schonell, 1950) it was observed that 31 out of 55 cases of athetosis had a history of neonatal jaundice; 19 of these jaundiced babies were proved cases of Rh iso-immunization. Clinically we could not detect any difference between the various groups of athetoids, classified according to their neonatal history. Meanwhile, Crabtree and Gerrard (1950) had shown that cases of kernikterus are usually deaf or partially deaf. The incidence of hearing defects in athetosis, whatever the apparent aetiology, has now been investigated. The results, together with a study of the neonatal history, appear to cast some light on the aetiology of athetosis. In addition, the diagnosis of deafness has in some cases led to a revision of previous estimates of the child's intelligence, a fact of some practical importance.