Suspected neurological impairment (SNI) and cognitive abilities: A longitudinal study of selected skills and predictive accuracy1

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between suspected neurological impairment (SNI) and cognitive abilities. Performances on cognitive measures administered between 8 months and and 8 years of age were compared employing a SNI group and a neurologically normal (NN) group. In addition, the accuracy of early cognitive skills in predicting later academic achievement was investigated for the SNI group. Neurological classification was determined by physicians based on specific neurological examinations. Differences between mean scores of SNI‐7 vs. NN groups were analyzed for significance using t‐tests. For the SNI‐7 group, performances on measures administered between 8 months and 4 years of age and attribute variables of sex, birth, weight, and maternal education were entered into stepwise regression analyses to determine the extent to which they predicted 8‐year academic achievement. Significant differences between the NN and the SNI‐7 group were demonstrated on all but two measures. Although the multiple regression analyses revealed the 3‐year Speech, Language, and Hearing Battery to be the best single predictor of 8‐year academic achievement, none of the resulting equations accurately predicted achievement. It was demonstrated that the SNI‐7 children had a globally depressed pattern of cognitive development in comparison to the NN children, indicating the need for screening programs for children as early as 4 years of age. Moreover, the need for the identificaton or development of discerning language measures for use with young children was also indicated.