Cognitive profiles of children with early onset of unilateral lesions

Abstract

The level and pattern of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children‐Revised (WISC‐R) performance for 18 left‐lesioned (LL) and 13 right‐lesioned (RL) children with clearly defined unilateral involvement and no ongoing seizure disorders were compared to normal controls matched by age, sex, race, and social class. Verbal IQ (VIQ), Performance IQ (PIQ), and Full Scale IQ (FIQ) were well within normal limits for all groups, although RL children scored significantly lower than right controls. No significant differences between VIQ, PIQ, and FIQ were found within the LL or RL or control groups; thus VIQ and PIQ discrepancy was not found to relate to lesion laterally. When WISC‐R subtests were recategorized according to Kaufman's factors, the Freedom from Distractibility factor was impaired in both LL and RL children, whereas RL children were also deficient on the Perceptual Organization factor. Level and pattern of cognitive performance are discussed in relation to age of lesion onset and site of lesion within a hemisphere.