VERBAL AND PERFORMANCE IQ PATTERNS IN CHILDREN AFTER PERINATAL STROKE

Studies of intellectual functioning in children with focal brain lesio ns have yielded inconsistent results. Some show a lateralizing pattern similar to that found in adults; others do not. We studied Wechsler I Q patterns in children with early onset focal brain lesions and matche d controls. Subjects with left hemisphere (LH) and right hemisphere (R H) focal lesions exhibited a significant decrement in Full Scale IQ. V erbal IQ (VIQ), and Performance IQ (PIQ) compared to controls. VIQ and PIQ were similar within the LH group, whereas VIQ was significantly h igher than PIQ within the RH group. The picture painted by our results is one of partial compensation and/or reorganization against a backdr op of global decrements in cognitive functioning.