Untreated, hydrocephalus has a 50%

Untreated, hydrocephalus has a 50% to 60% mortality rate caused by the disorder or intercurrent illnesses. Survivors have a high incidence of subnormal intellectual capacity, and a large majority have major physical and disabling neurologic handicaps such as ataxia, spastic diplegia, poor fine motor coordination, and perceptual deficits. Spontaneous arrest of head growth occurs in approximately 40% of those with near-normal intelligence.