[Intelligence structure of hyperkinetic children: comparative study of 2,229 profiles of the Hamburg Wechsler...

A retrospective evaluation of the HAWIK (Hamburg-Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children) test profiles of 2229 children with hyperkinetic syndrome and/or minimal brain dysfunction (MBD) was used in a group comparison in order to contribute to the question whether the hyperkinetic syndrome can be regarded as an autonomous syndrome apart from MBD or not. A total collective of 3 groups were compared: a) hyperkinetic children without MBD, b) hyperkinetic children who were found to suffer from MBD, c) children admitted with the diagnosis of MBD with no symptoms of hyperactivity. The mean values and graphics showed differences in the test profiles of groups a) and c). As for the boys, there were clear differences between hyperkinetic boys with MBD, and boys with MBD without hyperactivity; the mean values were significantly lower in this group. The test results confirm the supposition that hyperkinesis does not increase the disabilities ("Leistungsschwäche") caused by MBD but to a certain extent rather affords a certain means of compensation- at least in the test situation. We can also assume that the incidence of minimal brain dysfunction differs in boys and girls.