The parents of 63 individuals with meningomyelocele completed a scale examining the effects of their child's disability on their family. Eighty-six pediatricians also completed the scale as they predicted parents would respond. Medical and psychosocial data were also obtained. The results showed the following: (1) A higher level lesion was associated with parental reports of a more negative impact on the family (p <.05), and (2) pediatricians predicted a more negative impact than was reported by the parents (p <.001 ). We conclude that pediatricians overestimate the negative effects while also underestimating the positive effects of the disability on the family.
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