Intelligence Functioning and Associated Factors in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Objectives

Cerebral palsy (CP) is described as a primary disorder of posture and movement; however, intellectual impairment is prevalent in children with CP.

Aim

The aim of the present study was to examine the association with intellectual level and gross motor function, hand function, type of CP, and the presence of co-morbid disorders in these children.

Methods

A total of 107 children with CP were included in the study. Intellectual functions of the children were determined by clinical assessment, adaptive function of daily life, and individualized standardized intelligence testing. Gross motor function and hand function of the patients were classified using the gross motor function classification system and the bimanual fine motor function measurements.

Results

The mean age of the patients were 8.10 ± 3.43 years (age: 2–16 years). During clinical typing, we observed that 80.4% of the patients were spastic, 11.2% were mixed, 4.7% were dyskinetic, and 3.7% were ataxic. No significant relationship was determined between the type of CP and intellectual functioning (P > 0.05). Intellectual functioning was found to be significantly correlated negatively with both gross motor function and hand functions level (P < 0.001). The factors related to intellectual functioning were neonatal convulsion (x² = 12.97, P = 0.002), epilepsy (x² = 29.221, P < 0.001), and speech disorders (x² = 23.29, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

There is an association between intellectual functioning in children with CP and the degree of motor impairment, neonatal convulsion, epilepsy, and speech disorders. Intelligence assessment should be an essential part of CP evaluation.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.