What does HIV/AIDS mean for my child’s intelligence and learning?

What does HIV/AIDS mean for my child’s intelligence and learning?

The effect of HIV/AIDS on learning differs for each child. Children may have problems with learning and reasoning. Sometimes language skills or social skills are affected, such as knowing how to communicate in social situations. Some children with HIV or AIDS will be completely fine. A thorough evaluation (testing) by a qualified psychologist can tell you if your child's ability to learn or gain social skills have been affected by having HIV or AIDS.

Children with HIV or AIDS sometimes have behavioral problems. They may be depressed, or fail to show any emotion, or seem not to care about anything. Take these problems seriously. If you notice signs that behavior seems changed and "off," have your child see a skilled psychologist for evaluation.

Research has shown these common problems for children with later stages of HIV:

• Staying focused on tasks.
• Expressing themselves or talking with others about emotions.
• Acting younger than their age.
• Remembering things right after they happen.
• Giving and following directions or finding their way.
• Following things with their eyes or being able to see changes in lights.
• Ability to follow along and learn or react fast when things change too quickly.

Brown, 1999; Hittelman et al., 1993; Roelofs et al., 1996; Cohen et al., 1991; Boivin et al., 1995; Diamond et al., 1987