The neuropsychological and behavioural sequelae of children with myelomeningocele and hydrocephalus

Abstract

Thirty-six myelomeningocele children with hydrocephalus (between 9-16 years of age) were evaluated on a battery of neuropsychological tests and behavioural measures. The children obtained a FSIQ on the WISC-R of greater than 60 and all were attending school on a regular basis. Results showed that the myelomeningocele children, as a group, performed as well as the normative sample on measures of auditory comprehension, fine motor speed, accuracy on a visuomotor speeded task, stereognosis, and single-word reading. Although there was substantial variability within the myelomeningocele sample in terms of level of cognitive performance, as a group, with the exception of the above mentioned measures, they performed below the level expected for their age on the remaining measures in the neuropsychological test battery (83.63% of tests administered).