Poster Session 10 Program Schedule
02/17/2024
09:00 am - 10:15 am
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)
Poster Session 10: Neurodevelopmental | Congenital Conditions
Final Abstract #37
Intellectual Functioning in Young Children with Spina Bifida: Results from a Population-based study in Arizona and Utah, 2011-2013
John Fulton, University of Utah Department of Pediatrics, Salt Lake City, United States
Matthew Reeder, University of Utah Department of Pediatrics, Salt Lake City, United States
Sydney Rice, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States
Marcia Feldkamp, University of Utah Department of Pediatrics, Salt Lake City, United States
Jennifer Andrews, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States
Category: Medical/Neurological Disorders/Other (Child)
Keyword 1: spina bifida
Keyword 2: intellectual functioning
Keyword 3: pediatric neuropsychology
Objective:
Although several studies have documented the intellectual functioning of school-aged children and adolescents with spina bifida, to date there have been no studies assessing intelligence in a population-based sample of preschool children. The purpose of this study was to assess the early intellectual development of young children with this condition.
Participants and Methods:
Children between the ages of 3-6 born with spina bifida in either Arizona or Utah were recruited to participate in a population-based study of the condition conducted at multiple locations within the two states. In addition to data gathered through self-reported parental questionnaires and medical records, participants completed a battery of neuropsychological tests. As part of this battery, 81 children (Female=31, Male=50) completed the Differential Abilities Scales-Second Ed. (DAS-II). The majority of the children (N=58, 71.6%) had undergone placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus.
Results:
Mean intelligence scores fell in the low-average range relative to published norms (mean General Conceptual Ability=85). Specific index scores ranged from average performance on verbal tasks (Verbal Ability mean=91.2) to low-average performance on visual tasks (Special Nonverbal Composite mean=82.7).
Conclusions:
As a whole, preschool children with spina bifida demonstrate low-average intellectual functioning, with weaker performance on visual tasks relative to verbal abilities. Findings are consistent with research with other pediatric populations and suggest that differences in intellectual functioning are evident early in development. Additional analysis will provide further insight into condition factors that are predictive of intellectual outcomes.
| 
