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. 2022 Oct;111(10):1899-1906.
doi: 10.1111/apa.16463. Epub 2022 Jul 8.

Ten-year follow-up study found that motor-free intelligence quotient declined in children with mild-to-moderate cerebral palsy

Monika Coceski  1   2 , Robyn Stargatt  1 , Sarah Sherwell  1 , Hisham M Abu-Rayya  1   3 , Susan M Reid  2   4   5 , Dinah S Reddihough  2   4   5 , Jacquie Wrennall  6 , Darren R Hocking  1
Affiliations

Ten-year follow-up study found that motor-free intelligence quotient declined in children with mild-to-moderate cerebral palsy

Monika Coceski et al. Acta Paediatr. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Aim: This 10-year follow-up study examined cognitive change in a cohort of children with cerebral palsy from preschool to adolescence at the group and individual levels.

Methods: The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence was administered to 80 children with cerebral palsy (mean = 4 years 6 months, standard deviation = 7 months) at baseline (Time 1). At 10-year follow-up (Time 2), 28 adolescents (mean = 14 years 6 months, standard deviation = 9 months) returned for assessment with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. Motor-free intelligence quotient (IQ) scores were calculated and paired-samples t-tests and the Reliable Change Index (RCI) were used to investigate change in IQ over time.

Results: At the group level, nonverbal IQ scores declined significantly. At the individual level, RCI indicated nine and 11 children showed a clinically significant decline in Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) and nonverbal IQ scores, respectively. Decline in FSIQ was related to a history of seizures whereas decline in nonverbal IQ was associated with higher initial IQ.

Conclusion: Cognitive abilities in children with cerebral palsy evolve over time and selective deficits may not be observable until a later age, highlighting the importance of repeated cognitive assessment throughout childhood and adolescence.

Keywords: assessment; cerebral palsy; cognitive ability; follow-up study; longitudinal.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Reliable change in Full Scale IQ, Verbal IQ and Nonverbal IQ scores between preschool age (Time 1) and adolescence (Time 2) in children with cerebral palsy
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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