Intellectual function in children with teacher reported language problems.
We predicted that teacher reported language problems are associated with low IQ, even when gender and behavior-emotional disorders are controlled for. All subjects were participants in a population based study. In stage 1, teachers completed a questionnaire containing four items pertaining to language function. A case-control sample (n= 294) was assessed using WISC-III and Kiddie-SADS-PL. A child was defined with "language problems" (LP) if s/he obtained a score indicating severe problems on at least one item. Teacher reported LP was found in 9.9% of the population sample and 20.7% of the case-control sample, with a three-fold higher risk for boys than girls. The LP group obtained significantly lower scores on all WISC-III factors compared with the non-LP group. The differences were not accounted for by the presence of behavioral-emotional disorders. When primary school teachers report LP, further assessment of the child's cognitive function is warranted.
Lundervold
A J
AJ
Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, Neuropsychological Phenotyping Group, University of Bergen, Norway. astri.lundervold@psybp.uib.no
Posserud
M
M
Sørensen
L
L
Gillberg
C
C
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D007858:Learning; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching