66 Neuropsychological Profile of ROHHAD Syndrome: A Case Study

Abstract

Objective:Rapid Onset Obesity with Hypoventilation, Hypothalamic Dysfunction, Autonomic Dysregulation (ROHHAD) is a rare and often progressive syndrome with unknown etiology and only 100 cases reported to date. The syndrome is characterized by generally normal development followed by rapid onset of pain, muscle weakness, personality changes, and developmental regression. Associated chronic pain and fatigue result in difficulty concentrating, slow information processing, and executive function challenges. Only one study has examined the neuropsychological profile of pediatric patients with this syndrome.Participants and Methods:Our patient was a 10-year-old, right-handed male with a history of ROHHAD syndrome, focal epilepsy, mild neurocognitive disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who underwent two comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations at our medical center.Results:Findings across multiple evaluations showed solid verbal skills and difficulty processing visual-spatial and nonverbal information, as well as problems with attention, executive functioning, and adaptive skills, and psychosocial functioning consistent with his diagnoses of ADHD and ASD. He exhibited fine-and gross-motor challenges associated with hypotonia. Chronic fatigue contributed to his challenges with attention and information processing. These findings are generally consistent with previous research examining the neuropsychological profile associated with ROHHAD syndrome.Conclusions:Results from our case study highlight the complexity and challenges associated with ROHHAD syndrome. Consistent with available information, etiology of our patients’ neuropsychological weakness and functional decline is unclear. Yearly neuropsychological evaluations are recommended for these patients to update interventions based on their variable abilities. More research is needed to firmly establish the neuropsychological profile in youth of varying ages afflicted with this syndrome.