Congenital Heart Disease

The diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease (CCHD) in a child is usually a frightening experience for the family, and by itself often becomes the dominant health issue for the family, requiring major psychological, social, financial and other adjustments. In approximately 25 % of patients with CCHD, there is also intellectual and developmental disability (IDD), which can be manifest at the outset (as in chromosomal syndromes) or appear in later childhood. This chapter will address the causes, evaluation and management of IDD in CCHD with emphasis on early recognition and intervention of IDD. Illustrative cases will be used to bring out the salient features of the challenges faced by these patients and their families and in turn the challenges for the medical community for management of this problem.