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Markers for improvement in children with pervasive developmental disorders
W Fisher1, L Burd, J Kerbeshian
1Grafton State School, ND.
Journal of Mental Deficiency Research
|October 1, 1988
Summary
Children with pervasive developmental disorders and hyperlexia, Tourette disorder (TD), and no seizures showed better outcomes. These factors, along with known etiology and age, predicted higher IQ and language abilities.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) encompass a range of neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Identifying factors associated with improved outcomes in children with PDDs is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Previous research has explored various patient characteristics, but a comprehensive analysis linking specific traits to cognitive and linguistic development is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key patient characteristics that predict cognitive and language outcomes in children with PDDs.
- To determine the minimal set of variables significantly associated with IQ, receptive language, and expressive language.
- To explore the relationship between specific traits like hyperlexia, Tourette disorder, and seizure absence with developmental trajectories.
Main Methods:
- Prevalence and follow-up studies were conducted on 59 children diagnosed with PDDs in North Dakota.
- A regression model with forward, step-wise inclusion was employed to analyze 20 predictor variables.
- Dependent variables included IQ, receptive language, and expressive language.
Main Results:
- Four predictor variables consistently met inclusion criteria across all dependent variables: hyperlexia, a known etiology, Tourette disorder (TD), and age.
- Hyperlexia, TD, and the absence of seizures were associated with improved outcomes or higher IQ.
- These four factors collectively explained significant variance in cognitive and language development.
Conclusions:
- Hyperlexia, known etiology, Tourette disorder, and age are significant predictors of cognitive and language development in children with PDDs.
- The presence of hyperlexia and Tourette disorder, along with a lack of seizures, may indicate a more favorable prognosis.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering specific comorbidities and characteristics when assessing developmental trajectories in children with PDDs.