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Performance IQ (performance + iq)
Selected AbstractsCognitive visual dysfunctions in preterm children with periventricular leukomalaciaDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 12 2009ELISA FAZZI MD PHD Aim, Cognitive visual dysfunctions (CVDs) reflect an impairment of the capacity to process visual information. The question of whether CVDs might be classifiable according to the nature and distribution of the underlying brain damage is an intriguing one in child neuropsychology. Method, We studied 22 children born preterm (12 males, 10 females; mean age at examination 8y, range 6,15y; mean gestational age 30wks, range 28,36wks) with periventricular leukomalacia, spastic diplegia, normal intelligence (mean Full-scale IQ 84; mean Verbal IQ 97; mean Performance IQ 74), and normal visual acuity, focusing on higher visual functions. Brain magnetic resonance images (MRI) were analysed to establish the presence of lesions along the primary optic pathway, in the occipitoparietal and occipitotemporal regions. Results, Most children displayed an uneven cognitive profile, with deficits in visual object recognition, visual imagery, visual,spatial skills, and visual memory, and sparing of visual associative abilities, non-verbal intelligence, and face and letter recognition. Conventional brain MRI did not document major alterations of parietal and temporal white matter, or cortical alteration of areas involved in visual associative functions. Interpretation, We suggest a widespread involvement of higher visual processing systems, involving both the ventral and dorsal streams, in preterm children with periventricular leukomalacia. The lack of major alterations on conventional MRI does not exclude the possibility of malfunctioning of higher visual processing systems, expressing itself through discrete CVDs. Possible mechanisms underlying these neuropsychological deficits are discussed. [source] One hundred males with Asperger syndrome: a clinical study of background and associated factorsDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 10 2004Mats Cederlund MD The objective of this study was to investigate the background and associated factors in a representative group of young males with Asperger syndrome (AS) presenting at a specialized autism clinic. One hundred males aged 5 years 6 months to 24 years 6 months, with a mean age of 11 years 4 months (SD 3y 10mo), who had a clinical diagnosis of AS were included in the study. An in-depth review of their medical records and neuropsychological test data was performed. There was a high rate (51%) of non-verbal learning disability (defined as Verbal IQ more than 15 points higher than Performance IQ), but otherwise there was little or no support for the notion of right-hemisphere brain dysfunction being at the core of the syndrome. There was a very high rate of close relatives with autism spectrum problems, but also high rates of prenatal and perinatal problems, including prematurity and postmaturity. In comparison with general population data, those with AS very often had a combination of genetic and prenatal and perinatal risk factors. Non-verbal learning disability test results applied in about half the group. There was a subgroup of individuals with AS who had macrocephalus. However, there was no support for an association of AS with low body mass index. [source] Premorbid performance IQ deficit in schizophreniaACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2000G. P. Amminger Objective: Performance IQ (PIQ) is often lower than verbal IQ (VIQ) in schizophrenic patients. Whether PIQ Cognitive, Linguistic and Adaptive Functioning in Williams Syndrome: Trajectories from Early to Middle AdulthoodJOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 4 2010Patricia Howlin Background, Little is known about trajectories of cognitive functioning as individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) move though adulthood. Method, The present study investigated cognitive, linguistic and adaptive functioning in adults with WS aged 19,55 years, using both cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches. Results, Data from the cross-sectional study (n = 92; mean age = 32 years) indicated that IQ was comparable across age groups (Full-Scale IQ mean = 56,57) with Verbal IQ being slightly higher than Performance IQ. Daily Living Skills (as measured by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales) were significantly higher in older individuals. Language abilities showed no consistent age-related differences. On formal tests of language, comprehension scores were higher than expressive language scores for almost all individuals, although this pattern was not replicated on the Vineland. In the longitudinal study, a follow-up of 47 individuals (mean age = 37 years) first assessed 12 years previously, similar trajectories were found. IQ remained very stable (FSIQ = 61,62 at both time points); there were significant improvements on the Social and Daily Living domains of the Vineland and significant decreases in Maladaptive scores. There were no improvements in language over time. Conclusions, The data indicate that adults with WS (at least up to the age of 50 years) show no evidence of deterioration in cognitive skills. Adaptive abilities continue to develop although language shows relatively little improvement with time. [source] Comparison of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test,Third Edition and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale,Third Edition with university studentsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Nancy L. Bell This study examined the relationship between the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test,Third Edition (PPVT-III) and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale,Third Edition (WAIS-III) using 40 adults who ranged in age from 18 to 41 (mean age of 22 years). Participants were administered the PPVT-III and WAIS-III in counterbalanced fashion to control for order effects. Results revealed that the PPVT-III score was related to the WAIS-III Verbal IQ (VIQ) and Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) scores but unrelated to the Performance IQ (PIQ) score. In addition, analyses indicated that, while there were no significant differences between the PPVT-III score and WAIS-III mean FSIQ and PIQ scores, the PPVT-III mean score was significantly lower than the WAIS-III VIQ. Further analysis indicated that the PPVT-III adequately estimated WAIS-III FSIQ and VIQ scores for participants who were classified as Average or High Average on the WAIS-III. However, for participants in the Superior range, the PPVT-III tended to underestimate FSIQ and VIQ scores by approximately 10 points. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 57: 417,422, 2001. [source] Assessment of Psychoeducational Outcomes After Pediatric Liver TransplantAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 2 2009S. Gilmour Outcomes research in pediatric liver transplant (LT) has focused on mortality and morbidity but there is a need to also evaluate functional outcomes. Standardized cognitive testing was administered to a cohort of children with infantile chronic liver disease who were transplanted at the University of Alberta during their preschool years. Thirty children had comprehensive assessments with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development or Wechsler testing. Patient variables potentially associated with cognitive delay were analyzed with multiple regression analysis. The mean DQ/IQ score (developmental quotient/intelligence quotient) was 81 ± 17. Delay (DQ/IQ score < 70), and borderline delay (DQ/IQ 70,84) were each present in 27% of the cohort, with only 46% demonstrating normal cognition. Regression analysis demonstrated that the decreased IQ was associated with pretransplant growth retardation and elevated calcineurin inhibitor levels. Performance IQ had strong correlation with pretransplant growth retardation and elevated serum ammonia, R2= 45%, compared to verbal IQ that was associated was elevated calcineurin inhibitor levels, R2= 23%. Children post-LT are at high risk for cognitive delay or borderline delay. This is the first study to demonstrate the association calcineurin inhibitors with impaired IQ and also the unique finding of different variables predictive of impaired verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ) versus performance intelligence quotient (PIQ). [source] Mothers' perceptions of children's quality of life following early diagnosis and treatment for retinoblastoma (Rb)CHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2005Linda Sheppard Abstract We describe the Quality of Life (QoL) and IQ of survivors of retinoblastoma (Rb), both in relation to the normal population and between subgroups of Rb patients differing in relative risk (i.e. unilateral vs. bilateral disease). The sample included 54 children (28 males, age-range 8,16 years) and their mothers. Mothers completed standardized questionnaires to report their own QoL and that of their child. Children completed a brief IQ test. Compared with population norms, mothers reported lower levels of QoL for their child on total QoL and for sub-scales measuring Physical and Psychosocial function. Mothers reported their own QoL to be comparable or higher than norms on all but one of eight sub-scales (energy/vitality). Compared with population norms, children with no visual impairment scored in the normal range for tasks measuring Verbal IQ, but below the mean on tasks measuring Performance IQ. According to their mothers, survivors of Rb have excellent school attendance and take part in most school activities. However, based on standardized questionnaire, they show compromised QoL. We consider that excellent survival rates in Rb are matched with good QoL according to mothers' report. [source] Preschool outcome in children born very prematurely and cared for according to the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP)ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 4 2004B Westrup Aim: Care based on the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) has been reported to exert a positive impact on the development of prematurely born infants. The aim of the present investigation was to determine the effect of such care on the development at preschool age of children born with a gestational age of less than 32 wk. Methods: All surviving infants in a randomised controlled trial with infants born at a postmenstrual age less than 32 wk (11 in the NIDCAP group and 15 in the control group) were examined at 66.3 (6.0) mo corrected for prematurity [mean (SD)]. In the assessment we employed the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised (WPPSI-R) for cognition, Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Movement ABC) for motor function, subtests of the NEPSY test battery for attention and distractibility, and the WHO definitions of impairment, disability and handicap. Exact binary logistic regression was employed. Results: There were no significant differences between the intervention group in Full-Scale IQ 93.4 (14.2) [mean (SD)] versus the control group 89.6 (27.2), Verbal IQ 93.6 (16.4) versus 93.7 (26.8) or Performance IQ 94.3 (14.7) versus 86.3 (24.8). In the NIDCAP group 8/13 (62%) survived without disability and for the children with conventional care this ratio was 7/19 (37%). The corresponding ratios for surviving without mental retardation were 10/13 (77%) and 11/19 (58%), and for surviving without attention deficits 10/13 (77%) and 10/19 (53%). Overall, the differences were not statistically significant, although the odds ratio for surviving with normal behaviour was statistical significant after correcting for group imbalances in gestational age, gender, growth retardation and educational level of the parents. Conclusion: Our trial suggests a positive impact by NIDCAP on behaviour at preschool age in a sample of infants born very prematurely. However, due to problems of recruitment less than half of the anticipated subjects were included in the study, which implies a low power and calls for caution in interpreting our findings. Larger trials in different cultural contexts are warranted. [source] Sensory Processing and Adaptive Behavior Deficits of Children Across the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder ContinuumALCOHOLISM, Issue 6 2010Joshua L. Carr Background:, Prenatal alcohol exposure can have detrimental effects on a child's development of adaptive behaviors necessary for success in the areas of academic achievement, socialization, and self-care. Sensory processing abilities have been found to affect a child's ability to successfully perform adaptive behaviors. The current study explored whether significant differences in sensory processing abilities, adaptive behavior, and neurocognitive functioning are observed between children diagnosed with partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS), Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), or children who were prenatally exposed to alcohol (PEA), but did not meet criteria for an FASD diagnosis. The influence of IQ on adaptive behavior as well as further exploration of the relationship between sensory processing and adaptive behavior deficits among these children was also examined. Methods:, A secondary analysis was conducted on some of the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) scores, Adaptive Behavior Assessment System,Second Edition (ABAS-II) scores, and Wechsler Intelligence Scale,Fourth Edition/Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence,Third Edition (WISC- IV/WPPSI,III) scores of 46 children between 3 and 14 years of age with pFAS, ARND, or who were PEA. Results:, Greater sensory processing deficits were found in children with a diagnosis of pFAS and ARND compared to those in the PEA group. Children with an ARND diagnosis scored significantly worse on measures of adaptive behavior than the PEA group. Children with pFAS scored significantly lower than children with ARND or PEA on perceptual/performance IQ. No correlation was found between IQ scores and adaptive behaviors across the FASD diagnostic categories. A significant positive correlation was found between SSP and ABAS-II scores. Conclusions:, Regardless of the diagnosis received under the FASD umbrella, functional difficulties that could not be observed using traditional measures of intelligence were found, supporting guidelines that a broad range of standardized assessments be included when screening children for FASD. [source] Phenotypic variation and FMRP levels in fragile XDEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESEARCH REVIEW, Issue 1 2004Danuta Z. Loesch Abstract Data on the relationships between cognitive and physical phenotypes, and a deficit of fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene-specific protein product, FMRP, are presented and discussed in context with earlier findings. The previously unpublished results obtained, using standard procedures of regression and correlations, showed highly significant associations in males between FMRP levels and the Wechsler summary and subtest scores and in females between these levels and the full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ), verbal and performance IQ, and some Wechsler subtest scores. The published results based on data from 144 extended families with fragile X, recruited from Australia and the United States within a collaborative NIH-supported project, were obtained using robust modification of maximum likelihood in pedigrees. The results indicated that processing speed, short-term memory, and the ability to control attention, especially in the context of regulating goal-directed behavior, may be primarily affected by the FMRP depletion. The effect of this depletion on physical phenotype was also demonstrated, especially on body and head height and extensibility of finger joints. It is recommended that further studies should rely on more accurate measures of FMRP levels, and use of larger samples, to overcome extensive variability in the data. MRDD Research Reviews 2004;10:31,41. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Neuropsychological profile of children with subcortical band heterotopiaDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 11 2009MEGAN SPENCER-SMITH BPSYCSC PHD Aim, Subcortical band heterotopia (SBH) or ,double cortex' is a malformation of cortical development resulting from impaired neuronal migration. So far, research has focused on the neurological, neuroimaging, and genetic correlates of SBH. More recently, clinical reports and small sample studies have documented neuropsychological dysfunction in patients with this malformation. This study aimed to characterize further the phenotype of patients with SBH by describing the neuropsychological profiles of children. Method, Seven children (six females) aged 4 to 15 years were assessed for cognitive functioning (intellectual ability, processing speed, attention, working memory) and academic achievement (reading, spelling, arithmetic). Parents completed questionnaires examining their child's social skills and problem behaviours. Magnetic resonance images (MRI) conducted for routine clinical follow-up were coded by a paediatric neurologist. Genetic and seizure history were obtained from medical records. Results, There was variation in the neurological, neuroimaging, and genetic presentation of children in the sample. Impairments were observed in all areas of neuropsychological functioning examined. Intellectual ability was generally within the ,extremely low' range (full-scale IQ 44,74; performance IQ 45,72; verbal IQ 57,80). Generalized impairments in cognitive skills were typical, with severe impairments (scores greater than 2SD below the test mean) reported in processing speed, working memory, and arithmetic. Impairments in academic, social, and behavioural functioning were less generalized. No clear relationship between neuroimaging and neuropsychological impairments was found. Interpretation, Children with SBH demonstrate cognitive, academic, social, and behavioural problems, with the greatest difficulties in processing speed and complex cognitive skills. [source] Auditory temporal processing deficits in children with reading disabilitiesDYSLEXIA, Issue 3 2007Ravit Cohen-Mimran Abstract The role of central auditory processing in reading skill development and reading disorders is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine whether individuals with specific reading disabilities (SRD) have deficits in processing rapidly presented, serially ordered non-speech auditory signals. To this end, we compared 12 children with SRD and 12 children without SRD on their ability to detect differences and similarities in pure tones of 1000 and 2000 Hz when these signals were presented in pairs (same or different tones, randomly ordered) with short (50 ms) versus long (500 ms) inter stimulous intervals (ISI). Results showed that the children with SRD had significant difficulty in discriminating between pure tones with short, but not long ISI, whereas the controls performed well with both short and long ISI. The two groups did not differ significantly on measures of attention (d2) and performance IQ, and there were no significant correlations between these measures and ISI performance. There were significant correlations between the short ISI performance and phonologic awareness test results when the two groups were combined. These findings support the specific rapid auditory processing deficit hypothesis of SRD. Examination of intra-subject variability in performance indicated that children from the SRD group showed both decrement in performance with time on task and high overall variability in performance as compared to the controls. These findings underpin the importance of using time-series analyses of performance. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Early development of children at familial risk for Dyslexia,follow-up from birth to school ageDYSLEXIA, Issue 3 2004H. Lyytinen Abstract We review the main findings of the Jyväskylä of Dyslexia (JLD) which follows the development of children at familial risk for dyslexia (N = 107) and their controls (N = 93). We will illustrate the development of these two groups of children at ages from birth to school entry in the skill domains that have been connected to reading and reading disability in the prior literature. At school entry, the highest score on the decoding task among the poorer half (median) of the at risk children,i.e. of those presumably being most likely genetically affected,is 1 SD below the mean of the control group. Thus, the familial risk for dyslexia shows expected consequences. Among the earliest measures in which group differences as well as significant predictive associations with the first steps in reading have emerged, are indices of speech processing in infancy. Likewise, various measures of early language including pronunciation accuracy, phonological, and morphological skills (but not performance IQ) show both group differences and predictive correlations, the majority of which become stronger as the reliability of the measures increases by age. Predictive relationships tend to be strong in general but higher in the at risk group because of its larger variance in both the predictor variables and in the dependent measures, such as early acquisition of reading. The results are thus promising in increasing our understanding needed for early identification and prevention of dyslexia. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] VIQ-PIQ Discrepancies in Partial Epilepsy: On the Relation to Lat- eralities of Focal MRI Lesions, P3 Peaks, and Focal Spikes.EPILEPSIA, Issue 2000Osamu Kanazawa Purpose: A number of previous ncurophysiological studies have indicated that the glutamatergic system is important in the induction of epileptiform activity and the dcvelopment of epileptogenesis. Clutamate transport is the primary mechanism of inactivation of syiiaptically released glutamate. GLAST is classified BS an astrocytic transporter and occurs in high concentrations in the ccrebcllum. The pathophysiologic rolc of GLAST in epilepsy is not known in detail. To investigate the role of thc astroglial glutamatc transporter GLAST in epileptogenesis, we compared amygdalu-kindling and pentylenctetrazolc (PTZ) induced seizures in GLAST-deficient mice (GLAST(-/-)) wild-type mice (GLAST(+/+)), and maternal C57Black6/J mice (C57). Purpose: Subtest IQ such as verbal IQ (VIQ) and performance IQ (PIQ) in WAIS or WISC are thought to represent neuropsychological functions of the left and right hemispheres, respectively. The P300 (P3) event-related potential reflects cognitive processes. We do not ye1 know the brain site of P3 origin or how epileptogenic foci (EF) influ- ence P3 potentials. To examine neuropsychological influence by partial epilepsy (PE), we studied VIQ-PIQ discrepancies in PE in relation to lateralities of focal MRI lesions, P3 peaks, and EF. Methods: Thirteen patients showed VIQ-PIQ discrepancies significant at the p7lt;O.O5 level, represented by a>l2-point spread for the WAIS in adults, and a 15-point spread in the WISC in children. We evoked P3 potentials in the individuals with discrepant IQ differences by asking them to keep a mental count of rare tones, including introduction of oddbail tones. EEGs were recorded by the international 10,20 system and P3 peaks were shown in a topographical view by offline analysis. Patients were divided into normal and abnormal groups according to MRI findings, and were examined for the laterali- ties of the dominant side in subtest IQ (conventionally, we regarded higher VIQ as left hemisphere dominant and higher PIQ as right hemisphere dominant), P3 peaks, and EF. We did not correlate results with lert or right handedness. Results: Five patients (38.5%) were in the normal group and 8 patients (61.5%) were in the abnormal group. Concordance of the lateralities in P3 peaks and dominant side in subtest IQ was shown in 1 patient (20%) in the normal group and 5 patients (62.5%) in the abnormal group. In the normal group, all patients showed contralateral P3 peak shift to EF, and all except I patient showed contralateral P3 peak shift to the dominant side in subtest IQ. The other 3 patients in the abnormal group showed unilateral focal cortical dysplasias (FCD), ipsilateral P3 shift, and contralateral dominant side in subtest IQ to the focal MRI lesions. Conclusion: In our partial epilepsy series with VIQ-PIQ discrepancies, concordance of the lateralities in P3 peaks and dominant side in subtest IQ was shown in < half of the patients. Epileptogenic foci seem to have 3 different grades of influence on P3 peak shift and dominant side in subtest IQ according to the severities of accompanying focal MRI lesions: 1. Without MRI lesions, EF can make P3 peak shift contralaterally, but the dominant side in the subtest IQ shift ipsilaterally; 2. With less severe focal MRI lesions such as hippocampal atrophy etc., EF can make not only P3 peaks but also the dominant side in the subtest IQ shift contralaterally; 3. With severe focal MRI lesions such as FCD, EF can make the dominant side in the subtest IQ shift contralaterally, but the P3 peak may shift ipsilaterally. Epileptogenic foci without MRI lesions seem to control ipsilateral P3 potentials. MRI lesions render a hemisphere unlikely to become dominant, but epileptogenic foci can coexist with apparently normal neuropsychological function. [source] Association between the CHRM2 gene and intelligence in a sample of 304 Dutch familiesGENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 8 2006M. F. Gosso The CHRM2 gene is thought to be involved in neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity and feedback regulation of acetylcholine release and has previously been implicated in higher cognitive processing. In a sample of 667 individuals from 304 families, we genotyped three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CHRM2 gene on 7q31,35. From all individuals, standardized intelligence measures were available. Using a test of within-family association, which controls for the possible effects of population stratification, a highly significant association was found between the CHRM2 gene and intelligence. The strongest association was between rs324650 and performance IQ (PIQ), where the T allele was associated with an increase of 4.6 PIQ points. In parallel with a large family-based association, we observed an attenuated , although still significant , population-based association, illustrating that population stratification may decrease our chances of detecting allele,trait associations. Such a mechanism has been predicted earlier, and this article is one of the first to empirically show that family-based association methods are not only needed to guard against false positives, but are also invaluable in guarding against false negatives. [source] Core neuropsychological characteristics of children and adolescents with 22q11.2 deletionJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 8 2010C. Jacobson Abstract Background The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22qDS) confers high risk for intellectual disability and neuropsychological/academic impairment, although a minority of patients show average intelligence. Intellectual heterogeneity and the high prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses in earlier studies may have obscured the prototypical neuropsychological profile in 22qDS. Methods We examined intelligence, memory, reading and mathematical processes in 31 children/adolescents with 22qDS, selected for educational underachievement and an absence of psychiatric diagnoses, using standardised, psychometrically matched instruments that specify how typical a score is for a given intelligence quotient (IQ). Results Corroborating earlier findings, verbal IQ was significantly superior to performance IQ; verbal memory and basic reading were relative strengths; and visual/spatial memory was a relative weakness. All four findings transcended performance characteristics that are typical of low-IQ individuals. Rote learning yielded the highest score; reading comprehension, numerical operations and mathematical reasoning were among the lowest-performed academic domains. Albeit in the expected direction, performance in the respective components could not be clearly differentiated from what is IQ-appropriate. Conclusions A superiority of verbal intelligence over non-verbal intelligence, relative strengths in verbal memory and basic reading, and a relative weakness in visual/spatial memory are likely to be core characteristics of children/adolescents with 22qDS, transcending performance features that are typical of individuals with low IQ. [source] Relationship between the IQ of people with Prader,Willi syndrome and that of their siblings: evidence for imprinted gene effectsJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 5 2009J. Whittington Abstract Background Genetic disorders occasionally provide the means to uncover potential mechanisms linking gene expression and physical or cognitive characteristics or behaviour. Prader,Willi syndrome (PWS) is one such genetic disorder in which differences between the two main genetic subtypes have been documented (e.g. higher verbal IQ in one vs. higher performance IQ in the other; slower than normal reaction time in one vs. normal in the other). In a population study of PWS, the IQ distribution of people with PWS was approximately normal. This raises the question of whether this distribution arose from a systematic effect of PWS on IQ (hypothesis 1) or whether it was the fortuitous result of random effects (hypothesis 2). Method The correlation between PWS and sibling IQ was determined in order to discriminate between the two hypotheses. In the first case we would expect the correlation to be similar to that found in the general population (0.5); in the second case it would be zero. Results It was found that the overall PWS,sibling IQ correlation was 0.3 but that the two main genetic subtypes of PWS differed in their familial IQ relationships. As expected, the IQs of normal siblings correlated 0.5, and this was also the case with one genetic subtype of PWS (uniparental disomy) and their siblings, while the other subtype IQ correlated ,0.07 with sibling IQ. Conclusions This is a potentially powerful result that gives another clue to the role of genes on chromosome 15 in the determination of IQ. It is another systematic difference between the genetic subtypes of PWS, which needs an explanation in terms of the very small genetic differences between them. [source] Childhood autism spectrum disorder in the Barwon region: A community based studyJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 12 2004F Icasiano Objective: To establish a community database for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to determine prevalence and identify subgroups based on key intellectual, clinical and family parameters. Methods: Data were collected for children previously diagnosed with an ASD in the Barwon region using parental interview and review of the child's paediatric and psychological records. Preschool diagnoses were typically made by specialist psychologists and school-age diagnoses made by a multidisciplinary team. Results: One hundred and seventy-seven children in the Barwon region were identified as having ASD (82% response rate). The prevalence of ASD was one per 255 children aged two to 17 years. The prevalence increased 10 fold over a 16-year period and this increase was relatively even across all levels of child intellectual functioning. Forty-two percent of children were intellectually disabled (IQ < 70) and performance IQ was significantly higher than verbal IQ but typical block design-comprehension subtest patterns were not common. Nine sibling pair families were identified, 24% were labelled as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 6% had epilepsy, and 18.3% were macrocephalic where data were available. Family difficulty was associated with the degree of obsessions/rituals, frequency and intensity of anger/aggression, and ADHD but overall was not associated with the child's intellectual status. Conclusions: The relatively rapid increase in prevalence is consistent with overseas studies and suggests significant changes in diagnostic criteria, increasing community awareness and the need for support at all levels of intellectual functioning. Increased occurrence in siblings and relatives gives further evidence for a genetic cause. [source] Deterioration of intelligence in methamphetamine-induced psychosis: Comparison with alcohol dependence on WAIS-IIIPSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 1 2010Shih-Ku Lin md Aims:, Long-term use of methamphetamine could induce psychosis, but consequences with regards to intelligence have seldom been investigated. Long-term use of alcohol could also result in intellectual deterioration. Methods:, The IQ of 34 methamphetamine-induced psychosis (MIP) patients (age, 28.7 ± 6.1 years) and 34 alcohol-dependent (AD) patients (age, 40.7 ± 7.3 years) was compared using the Chinese version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale,Third Edition (WAIS-III). Results:, The average full-scale IQ, verbal IQ, performance IQ, verbal comprehension index, working memory index, perceptual organization index, and processing speed index was 82.3 ± 10.8, 84.3 ± 11.9, 81.9 ± 12.1, 85.5 ± 11.9, 84.7 ± 12.5, 85.4 ± 13.6, and 78.5 ± 12.7 in MIP patients and 90.5 ± 12.0, 95.2 ± 11.3, 86.0 ± 13.7, 95.5 ± 11.0, 87.1 ± 14.5, 96.2 ± 13.1, and 84.5 ± 15.0 in AD patients, respectively. There were six MIP patients (17.6%) whose full-scale IQ was <70 and 13 (38.2%) whose full-scale IQ was <85 and >70, while one AD patient had a full-scale IQ <70 (2.9%) and 10 (22%) had full-scale IQ <85 and >70. Conclusions:, Long-term use of methamphetamine can result not only in psychosis, but also in mentality deterioration. Intelligence deterioration is more severe in clinical MIP patients than AD patients. Assessment of the mentality of MIP patients is suggested to help with the implementation of rehabilitative programs for these patients. [source] Factors of significance for mobility in children with myelomeningoceleACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2 2003S Norrlin Aim: To investigate neurological impairment, hand function and cognitive function in a group of children with myelomeningocele, in order to identify factors of significance for independent mobility and the physical assistance required for mobility in daily activities. Methods: The study material comprised 32 children, aged 6,11 y and without mental retardation. Mobility was assessed with the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, scored as caregiver assistance. Statistical differences and correlations between the caregiver assistance scores and the selected variables were analysed. Results: Nine children scored independent mobility. The independent children had better hand coordination (p= 0.004) and walking ability (p= 0.01), lower cele levels (p= 0.011), higher performance IQ (p= 0.027), better visuospatial function (p= 0.029) and executive function (p= 0.037) than the others. The caregiver assistance scores were lower for both the children with early and severe symptoms of brainstem dysfunction and the children with scoliosis. Statistically significant correlations were found between the need for caregiver assistance and reduced walking ability, high cele level, poor hand strength and coordination, visuospatial function, executive function and performance IQ. In the subgroup of children who needed a wheelchair or walking aids, hand strength was the only variable significantly correlated with caregiver assistance (rs= 0.703, p= 0.000). Conclusion: Most of the children were dependent on others in daily activities. Impaired hand function and cognitive function were significant for mobility, and this has implications for the therapy programme in children with myelomeningocele. [source]
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