Abstract
64 children, born after intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and all with short stature (height SDS <-1.88), have been psychologically examined before starting growth hormone therapy (at T0). 32 matched control children (height below P10) have been tested as well. The tests concerned intelligence (WISC-RN) and school achievement (Groninger School Examination). Total Intelligence Quotients (TIQ), Verbal IQ and Performance IQ of the experimental group proved to be significantly lower (p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.01 respectively). No specific area of intellectual dysfunctioning could be detected in the IUGR-group; they achieved less in all areas. Regarding general school achievement, results showed no significant differences. However, IUGR-children proved to have more specific difficulties with arithmetic problem solving. Intelligence and school functioning correlated highly in the IUGR-group (r=0.70, p<0.001), but not in the control group. Auxological data, like duration of pregnancy and birthweight, differed significantly between both groups. Significant correlations were found between height SDS at T0 and intelligence (IUGR: r=0.34, p<0.01; control: r = 0.41, p<0.05).
Summarizing, IUGR children obtain lower results on the WISC-RN, while they do not clearly achieve less at school. Being small is correlated with intellectual functioning. Birthlength and birthweight, surprisingly, are not.
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De Waal, W., Slijper, F. & Verhulst, F. 121 INTELLIGENCE AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN SMALL CHILDREN: INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RETARDATION (IUGR) VERSUS CONTROLS. Pediatr Res 36, 23 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00121
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00121
