Intelligence assessments for children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review

Abstract

Aim Cerebral palsy (CP) is defined as a primary disorder of posture and movement; however, approximately 45% of children with CP also have an intellectual impairment. Prevalence estimates are limited by a lack of guidelines for intelligence testing. This systematic review aims to identify and examine intelligence assessments for children with CP. Method Electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, EMBASE, and ERIC) were searched to identify assessments that (1) measured intellectual function, (2) in children aged 4 to 18 years, (3) with CP, and (4) with psychometrics available. Results Searches yielded 48 assessments, of which nine provided psychometric data for children with CP. The included tests were the Columbia Mental Maturity Scale, the Leiter International Performance Scale, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, the Pictorial Test of Intelligence, the Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices, the Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scales, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. Interpretation Intelligence assessments in children with CP lack reliability data, consensus regarding validity data, and population‐specific norms. Research is required to establish psychometrics for children with CP. For children with higher motor involvement and/or communication and/or visual impairments, multiple options are required to assess intelligence appropriately.

The Functional Communication Classification System: extended reliability and concurrent validity for children with cerebral palsy aged 5 to 18 years

“…This highlights the importance of considering communication function when evaluating intelligence in education settings and/or when planning post‐school vocation. This has been reported by previous reviews of intelligence assessments for children with CP …”

Intelligence, Functioning, and Related Factors in Children with Cerebral Palsy

“…As intellectual development is related to many areas, such as communication, self-care, home experiences, social adaptation, health and safety, self-leadership, functional activities, leisure activities, and work spaces; correctly determining intellectual development it is quite significant for setting targets in a treatment (19).…”

myTREEHOUSE Self‐Concept Assessment: preliminary psychometric analysis of a new self‐concept assessment for children with cerebral palsy

“…The WISC‐IV assesses intelligence for children aged 6 years to 16 years 11 months using five composite scores ranging from 40 to 160 that represent intellectual functioning. In this study, screening was performed with the Verbal Comprehension Index, following the recommendations of Yin Foo et al., to eliminate the negative impact of poor fine motor performance for children with CP. The Verbal Comprehension Index has a reliability coefficient of 0.94 and stability coefficient of 0.89…”