Demographic, etiological, and functional variables related to intelligence in the visually impaired

Variables related to the intellectual functioning of 597 visually impaired persons were investigated. The total sample obtained a mean WAIS IQ score above that of the general population. Examination of dimensions with the visually impaired sample resulted in no significant differences on the basis of adventitious vs. congenital blindness, sex, residential vs. sighted school attendance, degree of vision, and diagnostic groups. Age and level of education were related to verbal intelligence scores.