Laterality of Cognitive Functions in Achieving Hemiplegic Children

Abstract

7 left and 7 right children with infantile hemiplegia were compared with 7 physically normal children on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children and Reitan-Indiana Neurological Tests. Although the brain-injured children are achieving satisfactorily in school and no differences were found among the three groups on the Wide Range Achievement Test, the left hemiplegics were poorer than the normals in visuo-perceptual performance and the right hemiplegics poorer than the normals in verbal intelligence. The results suggest that even in educationally advanced children, compensation for early, asymmetrical brain damage is not complete. Recommendations were made for early assessment of asymmetrical cognitive abilities and differential instructional procedures.