Cognitive and Neuropsychological Functioning in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

This article reviews the extant literature on intellectual functioning in different subtypes of cerebral palsy. Following a definition of the characteristics of each of three major cerebral palsy groups, typical neurologic and magnetic resonance imaging findings are reported. More recent studies that examine the intellectual and neuropsychological functioning of children within these classification groups are also reviewed. This review concludes that there remains a significant lack of precise information about the impact of cerebral palsy on the intellectual, motor, and neuropsychological functioning of children and that neuropsychological assessment can provide the necessary tools for such studies. (J Child Neurol 2001;16:58-63).