Neuropsychological characteristics of preschool children with spina bifida

The neuropsychological characteristics of preschool children with spina bifida were compared to a control group of children without neurological impairment. A battery of neuropsychological test normed for this age group were used, including the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities. Children with spina bifida were impaired relative to controls in general intelligence, verbal and nonverbal cognitive ability (with no discrepancy), gross motor skills in the lower extremities, fine motor skills, and perceptual-motor integration. No group differences were found in gross motor skills in the upper extremities or on a motor free test of perceptual discrimination. Results were discussed in terms of previous studies of children with spina bifida. The implications of these results for studies of the influence of injury on the development of cognitive skills were discussed.