Barn med Meningomyelocele fra Psykologisk Synsvinkel

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SUMMARY

The purpose of this paper is to describe the psychological characteristics and problems of nine children with meningomyelocele, all severely handicapped and resident in schools for physically handicapped.

Various intelligence tests (Binet, Leiter, Raven, Draw-a-man, and Kohs Block-design) gave group results ranging from lower sub-normal level to near debility. The reproductions of the Bender Gestalt figures were generally more retarded than corresponding to the intellectual level of the group. The Rorschachs showed the presence of quite severe emotional difficulties. The test results of several of the children indicated the possibility of brain injury. To some degree this was corroborated by neurological findings.

Even though the group was mentally retarded some of the children would intellectually have been able to follow normal school classes. About half of the children had no more behaviour difficulties than may be found in other groups of school children. In four children severe behaviour problems or emotional disturbances were observed (as poor contact, emotional instability and weak impulse control). One of the group was psychotic. The children's physical handicaps had naturally given a difficult life situation; for some of the children it may also be assumed that brain damage had contributed to their adjustment problems.

A lower intelligence level was found for the nine children than reported for corresponding groups in England. This may be accidental or due to differences in the selection of pupils in the schools. To the author's knowledge there has so far been no comprehensive psychological study covering all children with meningomyelocele in a particular area and we have no precise knowledge of the frequency of intellectual retardation or emotional difficulties among these children.

The need for thorough studies is more urgent because more children with this defect now survive. It is therefore important that research is carried out in order to clarify the psychological problems connected with meningomyelocele and give the children differentiated opportunities aligned to their real needs.