Intellectual stability in children with unilateral brain lesions

In this paper we report on the longitudinal stability of IQ in 26 children with unilateral left (LL N = 18) or right (RL N = 8) hemisphere damage. Results revealed (i) normal or near normal levels of intellectual performance in both LL and RL groups, and, (ii) hemispheric differences in the level and stability of intellectual performance. RL children achieved lower IQ scores than LL children and were more likely to decrease in VIQ over time. Cross-sectional analyses revealed a tendency for injury sustained earlier (e.g. during the first 5 years of age), rather than later in development to be associated with lower IQ scores.