VISUAL AND VERBAL SHORT-TERM-MEMORY DEFICITS IN CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA SURVIVORS AFTER INTRATHECAL CHEMOTHERAPY

Assessed survivors of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated w ith intrathecal chemotherapy, using the Wide Range Assessment of Memor y and Learning (WRAML), compared to controls without cancer, matched a s closely as possible in age, SES, and gender. Mild, but consistent, d eficits were found in both visual-spatial and verbal single-trial memo ry tasks. In multitrial learning, only visual-spatial tasks resulted i n deficient scores, while verbal learning was within the normal range. IQ results indicated scores 10-20 points lower in the ALL group. Memo ry results are related to deficits in strategic planning and attention al distractiveness. The WRAML may be a useful clinical tool to evaluat e differential memory deficits in children with ALL.