Intellectual and perceptual-motor characteristics of treated myelomeningocele children
P. L. Soare and A. J. Raimondi
We studied 173 children with myelomeningocele, 133 of whom developed
hydrocephalus (and had shunt procedures) and 40 of whom did not. Eighty
siblings were tested as a control group. Sixty-three percent of children
with hydrocephalus had IQs above 80; 87% of those without hydrocephalus had
IQs above 80. Children who had associated hydrocephalus were significantly
less intelligent than their siblings, whereas those without hydrocephalus
were not. When patients and siblings were not. When patients and siblings
were matched by age and IQ, the former scored significantly lower on a
perceptual-motor functioning test. When patients with and without
hydrocephalus were similarly matched, those with hydrocephalus scored
lower. Inverse relationships between sac location and IQ, and sensory level
and IQ, were found to be dependent on the association of higher sac levels
and of sensory loss with hydrocephalus. Patient IQ was related to family
income and education.
