OBJECT: The objectives of this study were to assess, in a cohort of children 
with recently treated hydrocephalus, the correlation between scores on the 
Hydrocephalus Outcome Questionnaire (HOQ) and the children's type of schooling 
and motor functioning, and to assess the overall outcome of the children.
METHODS: The health status of 142 pediatric patients (85 boys) with previous 
hydrocephalus, born between 1995 and 1999, was assessed. Outcomes were 
determined using the HOQ, type of schooling, and motor functioning. Data were 
obtained from parental interviews and patient medical records. RESULTS. Twelve 
patients died (8.5%). Responses to the HOQ were obtained from 107 patients (65 
boys). The mean age of the patients was 7 years and 9 months +/- 1.42 years 
(range 6-10 years). The Physical Health score of the HOQ correlated well with 
the motor functioning score (r = 0.652) as did the Cognitive Health score with 
the type of schooling (r = 0.672). Fifty-nine percent of the patients were able 
to attend a school for students with normal intelligence. Disabling motor 
functioning was found in only 30% of patients. Epilepsy was present in 14%.
CONCLUSIONS: The results show a good correlation between the type of schooling 
and the Cognitive HOQ score and between the Physical HOQ score and the motor 
functioning score. The HOQ is a simple and very useful measurement for 
determining outcome in pediatric hydrocephalus.