Wechsler Intelligence Scale For Children-Third Edition Research Articles

60 Family Functioning Effects on Cognitive Abilities in Children with Sickle Cell Disease

Objective:Psychosocial factors show a significant relationship between child behavior problems, family functioning, and cognitive performance in children with Sickle Cell Disease, marking those as important targets for intervention among this population. The purpose of this research is to address the effects of psychosocial factors impact on specific cognitive domains.Participants and Methods:Archival data from the National Institutes of Health’s Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease was used. Data was restricted to individuals aged 14 or younger (N= 2,408), with 47.8% (n = 1,152) identified as female and 52.2% (n = 1,256) as male. Black or African American (96.9%, n = 2,334) children made up the majority of the sample, with the remainder coded as “other” (2.8%, n = 68). The measures utilized included the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III), Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist, and Family Environment Scale (FES).Results:Bivariate correlations were completed with significant correlations found between FES and performance on the WISC-R/III and PPVT. Supportiveness subscale on the FES demonstrated several statistically significant correlations with WAIS FSIQ (r = .21, p = .000) as well as the Information (r = .22, p = .000), Similarities (r = .17, p = .001), Arithmetic (r = .13, p = .021), Block Design (r = .11, p = .036), Vocabulary (r = .22, p = .000), Object Assembly (r = .12, p = .033), Comprehension (r = .19, p = .000), and Digit Span (r = .13, p = .014) subscales. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the PPVT and the Supportiveness subscale (r = .34, p = .000).Conclusions:Various areas of cognitive functioning are affected by family dynamics. Improvement in family functioning would benefit the cognitive functioning of children with SCD. To increase aspects of family functioning including supportiveness, early identification of children with SCD, targeted interventions, and family and/or individual therapy for caregivers are suggested.

Citrullinemia and What Else?

Citrullinemia type I (CTLN1) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder. Symptoms typically include vomiting, lethargy, seizures and coma. In neonatal presentation, death occurs in days if untreated. Survivors may evolve with neurocognitive dysfunction. Two 10 years old, non-identical, twin sisters (S1; S2) with CTLN1 were born after a 36W gestation: S1 by eutocic delivery and S2 by cesarean section with nuchal cord (Apgar score 5/10). On day four, S2 presented hyperammonemia with coma. S1 had no complications. Diagnosis followed that of S2. Neurocognitive development was monitored at 3 months - 4 years of age with Griffiths Scales: global development quotient kept within the average, but S2 had a deficit in language and eye and hand coordination. At 5 years, the neurocognitive abilities were evaluated using Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - Revised (WPPSI-R). S2 revealed difficulties in verbal area (vocabulary, comprehension and memorizing sentences), with a lower average verbal intelligence quotient (IQ). S1 had high average IQ. Due to learning difficulties, S2 was reassessment at 8 years old with Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Third edition (WISC-III): full-scale IQ -"extremely low". These non-identical twin sisters share the same citrullinemia type 1 causing variants in the ASS1 gene. Nevertheless, their clinical presentation and neurocognitive evolution are diverse. Other factors, like the different genetic background and perinatal issues such as the type of delivery and its circumstances and the neonatal coma episode of S2 may explain the dissimilar evolution. Maximum ammonium levels (and its duration) are critical for the patients' neurodevelopment: 131 in S1 and 546 umol/l in S2.

Validation study of the Roberts Apperception Test for Children (RATC) in an adolescents' forensic sample

The Roberts Apperception Test for Children (RATC) is a projective method developed by McArthur and Roberts (1982) to assess children and adolescents' behavioural, social and emotional functioning, concerns, conflicts and emotional management strategies through their perceptions of common interpersonal situations of everyday life. The aim of the present study is to contribute to the validation of the RATC in a forensic sample (N = 75) [constituted by a group of juvenile delinquents detained in educational centres (n = 40, 12–17 years old, 1–10 years of schooling) and a group of maltreated adolescents integrated in residential care (n = 35, 11–16 years old, 5–10 years of schooling)], studying its psychometric properties, such as reliability and criterion validity (convergent and discriminant validity), considering the results obtained in other instruments as external validation criteria: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Third Edition (WISC-III) and Youth Self-Report (YSR). It also aims to search for some indicators based on means and standard deviations to interpret the scores obtained in RATC for these forensic contexts, through the comparisons within forensic groups and the comparisons of the forensic groups with a community sample. The RATC showed minimally acceptable reliability and adequate validity indices, considering that this instrument is a projective method. This limitation is compensated by the clinical value of the data obtained from the projection of individuals' thoughts, concerns, conflicts and problem-solving styles, which are useful to assess their emotional and behavioural characteristics and psychological functioning. The results also show statistically significant differences between the two forensic groups on RATC scales, as well as between them and the community sample, as expected, underlining their different characteristics.

A-209 Cognitive Effects of Sickle Cell Disease in Children

Abstract Objective: Multiple contributors to neurocognitive impairment in individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) have been identified. Research indicates that a history of cerebrovascular accidents are associated with greater cognitive decline among children with sickle cell disease, specifically among visual-spatial tasks. Studies have also indicated the presence of age effects within this population. The purpose of this research is to examine the specific cognitive domains impacted by disease severity and age. Method: Archival data from the National Institutes of Health’s Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease was used. Data was restricted to individuals aged 14 or younger (N= 2,408), with 47.8% (n = 1,152) female and 52.2% (n = 1,256) male. Black or African American (96.9%, n = 2,334) children made up the majority of the sample, with the remainder coded as “other” (2.8%, n = 68). The measures utilized included the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III), Woodcock Johnson-Revised (WJ-R), and Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT). Results: Disease severity was negatively correlated with some aspects of cognitive functioning, specifically in the visual-spatial domain [F(2, 1) = 4.42, p = .013, η² = .02]. Age was inversely correlated with measures of perceptual organization (r = -.36, p = .02) and visual motor abilities (r = -.49, p = .001). Conclusions: Results revealed that disease severity was negatively correlated with several aspects of cognitive functioning. Cognitive decline also increased with age among this population. Introducing remediation interventions at earlier stages may help to reduce significant cognitive deficits.

Behavior Problems and Cognitive Function in Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients

BackgroundLiver transplant (LT) is a lifesaving treatment providing excellent clinical outcomes. However, data regarding behavioral and cognitive issues after LT are sparse in Asia. This study aimed to investigate behavior and cognitive problems among pediatric LT recipients. MethodsWe used the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to evaluate behavior problems and/or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition (WISC-III) to assess cognitive function. Participants were children aged 2 to 18 years who were treated with LT for at least 2 years. ResultsWe included 77 children with a median age of 7.8 years (interquartile range, 5.0-10.9). All children were evaluated with the CBCL, and 26 children were available for WISC-III assessment. Approximately one-third (34%) of the children had a total CBCL score above a clinical cutoff for significant behavior problems, and 29% of school-aged children had abnormal competence scores in a clinically significant range. Most of the evaluated children (17 of 26; 65%) had a normal full-scale intelligence quotient. Lower cognitive function was associated with having a single parent (P < .01). Higher behavior problems were associated with lower parental education level (P = .01) and correlated with longer post-transplant duration (Spearman’s rho = 0.443; P < .001). ConclusionsSignificant numbers of children have behavior problems after LT. Most children have normal cognitive function, although a larger sample size is required to confirm this result. Long-term support for cognitive and behavior problems after LT should be implemented, particularly in children with single parents and lower parental education level.

Особенности понимания речи у детей с расстройствами аутистического спектра младшего школьного возраста

The objective of the present study is to investigate the relationship between the receptive language, and the index of non-verbal intelligence and the level of severity of autistic disorders in primary-school-aged children with Autism spectrum disorder. One of the main areas influenced by autistic disorders is communication. Therefore, the study of the language abilities of such children and factors that affect them provides a better approach to the therapy and education. The sample included 50 children aged 7–11 years diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Children were tested using the KORABLIK method (basic linguistic skills), the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (KABC-II) or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children ― Third Edition (WISC-III) (non-verbal intelligence), the Autism Diagnosis Observation Schedule ― Second Edition (ADOS-II) (autistic traits). The results support the hypothesis of the relationship between receptive language skills, the index of non-verbal intelligence, and symptoms of autism. The severity of autistic traits is negatively associated with some phonological and lexical levels of the receptive speech, as well as with understanding of discourse. The non-verbal intelligence index is positively associated with speech comprehension at all levels. A specific feature of receptive language in children with Autism spectrum disorder aged 7–11 years is the uneven development, which is associated with the severity of autistic traits and is not associated with the intelligence level.

Comparison on cognitive performance among schoolchildren born prematurely according to the presence of intracranial hemorrhage in the neonatal period

Abstract Objectives: to compare the cognitive performance of schoolchildren born prematurely according to the presence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) during the neonatal period. Methods: a cross-sectional cohort study of schoolchildren between the ages of 6-8 years old, born prematurely with or without a history of neonatal ICH. Between January and December 2015, some children were followed up at the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital and underwent a cognitive evaluation by using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition (WISC-III) and they were divided into two groups: those with no history of ICH (control group) and those with ICH (case group), confirmed by a transfontanelar ultrasound in the prenatal period. Results: 39 schoolchildren were included, 21 cases and 18 controls. There was no difference in gestational age or chronological age at evaluation between the groups. Also there was no significant difference in subtest scores between the groups. Conclusions: WISC-III evaluated the cognitive performance in children, born preterm, aged 6-8 years old, and had neonatal ICH did not differ from those of their peers without a history of ICH. These findings suggest that, in preterm infants, a neonatal diagnosis of ICH may not be associated with cognitive performance at school age and this should be investigated through a longitudinal study.

Physical fitness of non-disabled school-aged children born with extremely low birth weights

BackgroundThe assessment of long-term outcomes in survivors born with extremely low birth weights (ELBWs) has become increasingly important. However, little has been reported on the physical fitness of non-disabled school-aged children born with ELBWs. AimsTo assess the physical fitness of non-disabled school-aged children born with ELBWs. Study designRetrospective cohort study. SubjectsWe analyzed 169 ELBW infants without cerebral palsy or intellectual disability (based on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third Edition (WISC-III) Full Scale intelligence quotient (IQ) test < 70). Outcome measuresPhysical fitness was assessed using the grip strength, sit-up repetitions, sit & reach, side steps, standing long jump, and softball throw tests. T-scores were calculated using national survey data. ResultsThe T-scores for the grip strength, sit-up repetitions, sit & reach, side steps, standing long jump, softball throw tests, and the overall T-score were 43.7 ± 7.5, 44.2 ± 10.5, 46.0 ± 9.7, 40.9 ± 8.0, 40.0 ± 9.8, 42.4 ± 8.1, and 42.9 ± 5.5, respectively. After adjusting for other age-related factors, the height (SD score), WISC-III Performance IQ score, and percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) independently predicted the overall T-scores. Their standardized partial regression coefficients (β) were 0.334 (p = 0.009), 0.190 (p = 0.022), and 0.187 (p = 0.032), respectively. ConclusionsOur cohort's physical fitness at approximately 8 years of age was significantly impaired compared to average Japanese children of the same age. Height, FVC, and Performance IQ independently predicted physical fitness, with height being the strongest predictor.

Validez del Ages & Stages questionnaires para predecir el desempeño cognitivo en los primeros años de educación escolar

IntroductionThe Ages and Stages questionnaires (ASQ) has been recently validated in our country for developmental screening. The objective of this study is evaluate the validity of ASQ to predict low cognitive performance in the early years of schooling. Patients and methodDiagnostic test studies conducted on a sample of children of medium-high socioeconomic level were evaluated using ASQ at least once at 8, 18 and/or 30 months old, and later, between 6 and 9 years old, reevaluated using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-third edition (WISC-III). Each ASQ evaluation was recorded independently. WISC-III was standardized, considering underperformance when the total score were under -1 standard deviation Results123 children, corresponding to 174 ASQ assessments (42 of them were 8 months old, 55 were 18 months and 77 were 30 months of age) were included. An area under the ROC curve of 80.7% was obtained, showing higher values at 8 months (98.0%) compared to 18 and 30 months old (78.1 and 79.3%, respectively). Considering different ASQ scoring criteria, a low sensitivity (27.8 to 50.0%), but a high specificity (78.8 to 96.2%) were obtained; the positive predictive value ranged between 21 and 46%, while the negative value was 92.0-93.2%. ConclusionASQ has low sensitivity but excellent specificity to predict a low cognitive performance during the first years of schooling, being a good alternative to monitor psychomotor development in children who attend the private sector healthcare in our country.

Longitudinal study of very low birth weight infants until 9 years of age; attention deficit hyperactivity and autistic features are correlated with their cognitive functions

BackgroundIncreasing attention has been given to neuro-developmental problems of very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) at school age. However, it remains unknown whether their neuro-cognitive function and psychiatric symptoms are mutually associated. AimThe aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of neuro-cognitive functions in VLBWIs and their relationship with psychiatric symptoms. MethodsA total of 160 VLBWIs who were born at our institute between 2001 and 2005 were recruited consecutively and followed up until nine years of age. The developmental profiles were obtained from 77 children (45 males and 32 females) at six to nine years of age using the ADHD Rating Scale—Fourth edition (ADHD-RS), Autism Screening Questionnaire—Japanese version (ASQ-J) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third edition (WISC-III). ResultsThe full-scale intelligence quotient did not significantly differ between the male and female VLBWIs (median: 91 vs. 99, p=0.17). The males had higher total scores (median: 13 vs. 4, p<0.01) and higher scores on the subscales of Inattention (8 vs. 2, p<0.01) and Hyperactivity–Impulsivity (5 vs. 1, p<0.01) of the ADHD-RS compared with the females. The Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) of the WISC-III was inversely correlated with the total scores of the ASQ-J for all VLBWIs (n=77, rc: −0.32, 95% CI: −0.19 to −0.01, p=0.04). We also observed that the Freedom from Distractibility Index (FDI) of the WISC-III was significantly correlated with the Inattentive scores of the ADHD-RS (n=45, rc: −0.18, 95% CI: −0.35 to −0.02, p=0.03) in male, but not female VLBWIs. ConclusionsWe herein report that the VCI and FDI of the WISC-III were correlated with the autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms, respectively, in male VLBWIs.

Sex differences in cognitive and symptom profiles in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders

Although a small number of studies have investigated sex differences in the associated features of high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (HFASDs), they have failed to provide consistent findings. We sought to examine sex differences in 5–9-year-old females and males with HFASDs within a narrow range of ages before adolescence in order to identify the noticeable autistic profile of females compared to males. Using the Japanese version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale-Tokyo Version (CARS-TV), 20 females with HFASDs were compared with 26 males with HFASDs. Although females and males with HFASDs share similar cognitive profiles in WISC-III, females demonstrated a different symptom profile from males in CARS-TV. Although the female subjects scored significantly lower than the male subjects on “Body Use,” “Object Use,” and “Activity Level,” female subjects scored significantly higher than males on “Taste, Smell, and Touch Response and Use” in the CARS-TV. This finding can be useful for the early identification of females with HFASDs who have typically been underdiagnosed. Future research should focus on elucidating the possible behavioral, neurological, and genetic links to these sex differences.

Effect of Prenatal Lead Exposure on Intellectual Ability of 84-Month-Old Japanese Children

BACKGROUND: Postnatal lead exposure has been shown to be associated with poor intellectual ability in children, although the effects of prenatal exposure are less well studied. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of low cord-blood lead concentrations with intellectual ability in Japanese children. METHODS: We have been conducting a prospective cohort study, the Tohoku Study of Child Development, to examine the effects of perinatal exposure to chemical substances on neurobehavioral development in Japanese children. A total of 599 singleton births were recruited during 2001-2003, and 364 had complete data for all included covariates for this analysis. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) was used to assess the intellectual ability in children 84 months old. We assessed lead as well as other chemical substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), total mercury (THg), and selenium in cord blood and used these variables as confounders. RESULTS: The median values of chemicals were 1.0 (5th and 95th percentiles, 0.5 - 1.8) µg/dL for lead, 47.6 (17.1 - 115.9) ng/g-lipid for total PCB, 10.1 (4.2 - 22.2) ng/g for total mercury (THg), and 191.6 (128.8 - 268.5) ng/mL for selenium in whole cord blood. A negative association between the lead concentration and the performance IQ (PIQ) of the WISC-III was observed (ß=-0.103, p=0.043) even after adjusting for total PCB, THg, selenium in cord blood and confounders such as child gender, birth order, and family annual income. CONCLUSION: The findings are consistent with other reports about the adverse impact of prenatal lead exposure on the intellectual ability of children, although these associations appeared at relatively low exposure levels.

Factor Structure of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Third Edition (WISC – III) among Gifted Students in the Sudan

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Third Edition (WISC-III) is widely used for identifying gifted children, but studies on its factor structure in this target group are scant. The present study examines the factor structure of the WISC–III (6-16 years) among gifted children in Sudan. Participants were 262 elementary school children (48.9% males, 51.1% females) aged 8.9 ± 0.94 years. Factor analysis was applied using principal components analysis with varimax rotation and principal axis factoring with oblimin rotation. The factors extracted for gifted children proved to be similar to those extracted for normal children. The “general intelligence” factor g accounted for a far smaller proportion of the variance than is usual, most likely because this sample had been selected rigorously for high g. Implications for the use of the WISC in selection and counseling of gifted children in developing countries are discussed.

No association between catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotype and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Japanese children

Objective: This study ascertained the association between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Japanese children and a polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), a dopamine-control gene. The secondary aim of the study was the evaluation of a putative association between methylphenidate (MPH) effect/adverse effects and the COMT genotype. Methods: To ascertain the distribution of the Val158Met variant of COMT, 50 children meeting ADHD inclusion criteria were compared with 32 healthy children. Clinical improvement and the occurrence of adverse effects were measured before and 3months after MPH administration in children with ADHD, and analyzed for genotype association. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III), age, MPH dose were included as co-variables. Results: The occurrence of the COMT Val/Val genotype was significantly higher in children with ADHD (χ2(1)=7.13, p<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the Val/Val genotype according to disorder, and WISC and ADHD rating scale scores, after correcting for the interaction between disorder and COMT genotype. Furthermore, no significant difference in MPH effect/adverse effects was observed in association with the COMT genotype in the ADHD group. Conclusions: These results showed a lack of association between the COMT Val/Val genotype and ADHD in Japan.

Normative Study of the Boston Naming Test in 7-Year-Old Japanese Children

The Boston Naming Test (BNT) has been used to assess the language development of children in many epidemiology studies, and its usefulness is confirmed. The BNT consists of 60 black and white line drawings of objects and animals. There are no normative data available for this test for Japanese children. The purpose of this study was to collect normative information in Japan and to examine the correlation between the score of the BNT and Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children third edition (WISC-III). The BNT was translated into Japanese and administered in children registered to the birth cohort of the Tohoku Study of Child Development at the age of 84 months. The participants for analysis in this study were 449 children (237 boys, 212 girls). There were four items with percentage scores below 1%; Igloo, Knocker, Muzzle, and Yoke. Many Japanese children could answer 'abacus' and 'compass', which are difficult for US children. Although the score of the BNT correlated with IQ of the WISC-III (p<0.001), as compared with the previous studies, the correlation coefficient was low. The BNT is quick and easy to use and valuable for researchers in evaluating language ability in children. Since the BNT was developed in the United States, the cultural values of that country are reflected in the BNT score. This implies that the BNT should be modified to fit Japanese population.

The Consequences of Neglect in Children: Neurocognitive Comparisons Among Conduct Disordered and Non-Conduct Disordered Youth Residing in Foster-Care with That of Children from Intact Families

Children (n = 85) between the ages of 6 and 16 were administered two tests of source monitoring proficiency, one an external source test and the second an internal source test. In addition, the children were assessed using the Children's Category Test (CCT), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III), and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). The primary interest was to compare the source monitoring and cognitive processes of children in foster care with a diagnosed conduct disorder and children in foster care without a psychiatric diagnosis. In addition, a group consisting of children living with their parents was included for comparative purposes. For the primary analyses, the dependent variables consisted of raw ISM and ESM scores, full-scale IQ, measures of working memory and processing speed, and the total and perseverative error measures of the WCST. First, because age differences were expected, a MANOVA was used with the age of the subject grouped into three categories of 6 to 8-, 9 to 12-, and 13 to 16-year olds. Following the verification of age differences on the dependent measures, a MANCOVA was used to examine the influence of abuse/neglect by comparing individuals in foster care, with and without a psychiatric diagnosis. Therefore, the study comprised three groups: (1) a group of children living at home with the parents and serving as a comparison group, (2) a control group consisting of children living in foster care but with no psychiatric diagnosis, and (3) a group of children living in foster care with a diagnosed conduct disorder. Age, as a continuous variable, served as the covariate. ISM scores revealed that both of the control groups differed from the foster care / conduct disorder group, with scores in the foster care control group comparable to that of the intact family comparison group. The intact family comparison group had significantly higher FS-IQ scores than either foster care group. In addition, FS-IQ scores in the foster care control group were intermediate between that of the intact family comparison and conduct disorder groups. Children in the intact family comparison group made significantly fewer total errors and perseverative errors than either foster care group. However, the number of perseverative errors for the two foster care groups was comparable.

Validity of the RIAS for Assessing Children With Traumatic Brain Injury: Sensitivity to TBI and Comparability to the WISC-III and WISC-IV

Intelligence tests are commonly administered to children following moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS) is a recently developed measure of intellectual ability that has a number of appealing features for assessing individuals with brain damage, but as yet has little validity information when applied to children with TBI or other forms of brain injury. It is therefore unclear whether RIAS scores are sensitive to brain injury and how they compare to older more well-established tests such as the Wechsler scales. The current article reports two studies that examine these matters in youth with TBI. The first study examined sensitivity of the RIAS to TBI in 110 children. Results indicated the TBI sample performed significantly worse compared with the standardization sample on all RIAS index scores. The second study included 102 children who were administered either the RIAS, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III), or WISC-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV; 34 children in each group). Comparisons among the RIAS, WISC-III, and WISC-IV groups indicated no significant differences among the measures on verbal, nonverbal, and Composite Index/Full-Scale IQs. Results provide support for the sensitivity of the RIAS to TBI in children and also suggest that IQs produced by the RIAS, WISC-III, and WISC-IV do not significantly vary from one test to the other, which is particularly true of the verbal and Composite Index/Full-Scale IQs.

Association Between Story Recall and Other Language Abilities in Schoolchildren With ADHD

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of working memory, vocabulary, and grammar on narrative comprehension in children with ADHD. Method: Participants were 25 schoolchildren with ADHD and 25 typically developing (TD) children matched for chronological age and performance IQ. Children were assessed with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III), a verbal IQ test, and a story recall task. Results: It was shown that children with ADHD recall less information from the stories than did TD children, while they are less sensitive to the importance of the information they recall. Moreover, it was found that children with ADHD experience problems in answering factual questions. Further analysis revealed that deficiencies in narrative comprehension may be accounted for by problems in working memory. Conclusion: The discussion focuses on the role of working memory in narrative comprehension and the implications of these findings for intervention approaches.

Children with high-functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome: Can we differentiate their cognitive profiles?

The aim of this study was to investigate whether children with high-functioning autism (HFA) and Asperger's syndrome (AS) can be differentiated from each other and from typically developing children on their cognitive profiles. The present study included a total of 45 participants: children with autism (high-functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome) and a matched control group of typically developing children (n=15 per group). Two tasks were used to establish their cognitive profiles: the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) and the NEPSY scale. Our results highlighted differentiated profiles between the children with Asperger's syndrome and those with high-functioning autism. The first ones showed strengths on verbally mediated skills as well as weaknesses on visual-motor coordination and graphomotor ability, whereas the children with HFA exhibited a profile with deficits on tasks calling upon verbal comprehension and good performances on tasks requiring visuo-spatial skills. This paper argues for a revision of AS criteria in the forthcoming DSM-V rather than a combination of the two subgroups within the autism spectrum disorders in the diagnostic manual.

IQ as a predictor of clinician‐rated mental health problems in children and adolescents

Previous studies indicate that low IQ is a substantial risk factor for developing mental health problems. Based on these results, we hypothesized that IQ may predict some of the variance in clinician-rated severity of children's mental health problems measured with the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) and Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA). The other aims of this study were to examine if there was any difference in the predictive ability of the different IQ scores of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third edition (WISC-III) and to examine if parent-rated measure of child mental health problems could predict the scores on CGAS and HoNOSCA after controlling for IQ, age, and gender. In this study, 132 patients at three outpatient clinics in North Norway were assessed with the parent version of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), HoNOSCA, CGAS, and with the WISC-III. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted with HoNOSCA and CGAS as dependent variables. Demographics, WISC-III IQ scores, and SDQ were entered as independent variables. The model with HoNOSCA as the dependent variable predicted 25% of the total variance. The WISC-III full-scale IQ predicted an additional 6% of the variance. The analyses with CGAS as the dependent variable gave no significant results. When a patient has a high HoNOSCA score, an intelligence test in addition to an evaluation of symptoms on mental health should be considered. Future research ought to examine whether HoNOSCA's ability to detect change might be affected by patients IQ.