Neurological soft signs in childhood do not predict neuropsychological dysfunction in adulthood

Abstract

So‐called “soft signs,” such as inadequacies of balance and coordination, and difficulties in the execution of fine‐motor imitative movements, have been used as nonspecific markers of subclinical neurological deficits, but their prognostic utility has not been empirically established. Using a long‐term longitudinal design and an extensive set of cognitive and behavioral outcome variables, including comprehensive neuropsychological testing, we studied 38 male subjects who were evaluated as children for problems with overactivity, aggression, academic performance, or a combination of these. Five‐point ratings of the presence and severity of soft signs from 1 (no indication) to 5 (very strong indication) obtained at the childhood assessment were used to divide the subjects into low (score 2) soft‐sign groups. The subjects were evaluated comprehensively as adults (21 to 23 years old) with respect to psychiatric, behavioral, educational, vocational, intellectual, and neuropsychological out...