NEUROLOGICAL SOFT SIGNS IN CHILDHOOD DO NOT PREDICT NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL DYSFUNCTION IN ADULTHOOD

So-called ''soft signs,'' such as inadequacies of balance and coordina tion, and difficulties in the execution of fine-motor imitative moveme nts, have been used as nonspecific markers of subclinical neurological deficits, but their prognostic utility has not been empirically estab lished. Using a long-term longitudinal design and an extensive set of cognitive and behavioral outcome variables, including comprehensive ne uropsychological testing, we studied 38 male subjects who were evaluat ed as children for problems with overactivity, aggression, academic pe rformance, or a combination of these. Five-point ratings of the presen ce and severity of soft signs from 1 (no indication) to 5 (very strong indication) obtained at the childhood assessment were used to divide the subjects into low (score less than or equal to 2) and high (score >2) soft-sign groups. The subjects were evaluated comprehensively as a dults (21 to 23 years old) with respect to psychiatric, behavioral, ed ucational, vocational, intellectual, and neuropsychological outcome. C omparisons of the groups with variables from each of these areas revea led no significant differences on any of the measures. The findings pr ovide no support for the use of soft signs as prognosticators of adult status on psychological and neuropsychological variables.