ACADEMIC, BEHAVIORAL, AND SOCIAL ADAPTATION OF BOYS WITH HEMOPHILIA HIV DISEASE

Examined the intelligence, academic achievement, behavior, and social competency of 37 school-aged boys with hemophilia, 56% with HIV infect ion. IQ scores fell in the average range, but total reading scores wer e almost 1 standard deviation below the mean. Parent and teacher ratin gs of social functioning and behavior fell in the normal range. Absent eeism, an average of 27 days for the previous school year, was inverse ly correlated with most teacher ratings, indicating that absenteeism m ay be a significant factor in the academic and social adaptation of ch ildren with hemophilia. Overall, boys infected with HIV demonstrated t he same level of academic and behavioral adaptation as those uninfecte d. The need for special education programs and interventions to enhanc e competency in the school setting is discussed.