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Verbal and spatial processing efficiency in 32 children with sex chromosome abnormalities
B G Bender1, M G Linden, A Robinson
1National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, Colorado 80206.
Pediatric Research
|June 1, 1989
Summary
Children with XXX trisomy and X monosomy show cognitive deficits, particularly in processing speed. Boys with Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) exhibit impaired verbal fluency, suggesting educational adaptations are needed for these groups.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Human genetics
- Cognitive psychology
Background:
- Sex chromosome aneuploidies, such as 47,XXX, 45,X, and 47,XXY, are associated with developmental variations.
- Cognitive functioning, particularly spatial and linguistic processing, can be affected by these chromosomal alterations.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for targeted educational and therapeutic interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare spatial and linguistic processing efficiency in children with 47,XXX, 45,X, and 47,XXY aneuploidies against chromosomally normal controls.
- To identify specific cognitive deficits associated with each sex chromosome aneuploidy.
- To provide evidence for tailored educational support.
Main Methods:
- Cognitive assessment of spatial and linguistic processing efficiency in 60 children aged 8-18 years.
- Inclusion of groups with 47,XXX (11 girls), 45,X (6 girls), 46,X,Xq- (2 girls), 47,XXY (13 boys), and 28 controls.
- Comparison of performance across different cognitive tasks with varying time demands.
Main Results:
- 47,XXX girls performed significantly below controls on all cognitive tests.
- X monosomy (45,X) girls showed deficits in spatial processing and verbal tasks with high efficiency demands.
- 47,XXY boys demonstrated impaired verbal fluency (rapid information retrieval) but not spatial or low-efficiency verbal tasks.
Conclusions:
- Impaired information processing speed is a key characteristic distinguishing 47,XXY boys and 45,X girls from controls.
- Cognitive profiles differ among sex chromosome aneuploidies, with specific challenges in spatial and verbal domains.
- Educational settings should incorporate accommodations, such as extended time, to support the learning needs of these children.