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Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between suspected neurological impairment (SNI) and cognitive abilities. Performances on cognitive measures administered between 8 mo. and 8 yr. of age were compared employing two different impaired groups and a neurologically normal group. One group demonstrated deviance at Age 1 and neurological normalcy at Age 7 (SNI-1) whereas the other group demonstrated normalcy at Age 1 and neurological deviance at Age 7 (SNI-7). The former evidenced particular difficulty with verbal mental skills, whereas, the latter demonstrated a global pattern of depressed cognitive impairment. However, impairment extended to academic skills at Age 8 for both groups. Deviation was identified at 8 mo. for the former and at 4 yr. for the latter group. The serial use of psychological measures for early screening of the former group was effective, therefore, but more discerning measures are needed to detect subtle deviations which may have existed for one group at Age 7 yr. The need for the identification or development of effective language measures for use with young children was also indicated.

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Suspected Neurological Impairment and Cognitive Abilities: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

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