Relationship between intellectual functioning and communicative competence in deaf children

A group of 39 deaf children tested at ages 2 1/2--4 and 5-6 1/2 yr achieved average scores on three tests of intellectual functioning: a modified version of the Stanford-Binet, the Performance scales of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, and four subtests from the Non-Verbal Intelligence Tests for Deaf and Hearing Subjects developed in Holland by Snijders and Snijders-Oomen [Non-Verbal Intelligence Tests for Deaf and Hearing Subjects (Wolters-Noordhoff N.V., Groningen, Holland, 1968)]. A significant positive correlation between intelligence test scores and an Index of Communicative Competence suggests that communicative competence must be given special attention when assessing the intelligence of children with handicaps that interfere with communication.