NEUROBEHAVIORAL RELATIONSHIPS AFTER THE ONSET OF PUBERTY

The behavioural and cognitive development were studied of 68 children with and 259 without minor neurological function (MND) at 14 years, wh en the majority of children showed three or more physical signs of pub erty. MND was differentiated into fine manipulative disability, co-ord ination problems, choreiform dyskinesia and hypotonia. The normal grou p was subdivided into those who had been normal at 12 years and those who had had MND. All types of MND were related to cognitive and behavi oural problems. Fine manipulative disability was related to behavioura l and cognitive difficulties; co-ordination problems to learning diffi culties; and choreiform dyskinesia and hypotonia were related to atten tion difficulties and school failure, notwithstanding normal IQ. Besid es MND, socio-economic class, family adversities and female gender con tributed to the development of behavioural and cognitive problems. The behaviour of children with MND at 12 years who were normal at 14 year s did not differ from that of normal children.