Associations of ethnicity and SES with IQ and achievement in spina bifida meningomyelocele.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated whether the phenotypic pattern of higher verbal than nonverbal IQ in children with spina bifida meningomyelocele (SBM) is consistent across subgroups differing in ethnicity and SES. We also explored the relation of cognitive and academic performance.


METHODS
Non-Hispanic White (n = 153) and Hispanic (n = 80) children with SBM received the Stanford Binet Test of Intelligence-IV and achievement subtests of the Woodcock-Johnson. Parents completed questionnaires assessing the family environment [socioeconomic status (SES), resources, and educational opportunities].


RESULTS
Multivariate analysis revealed that Hispanic children with lower SES had lower verbal than nonverbal scores. Hispanic children with higher SES and non-Hispanic White children demonstrated the reverse pattern. Verbal and nonverbal IQ interacted to predict reading and math performance.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower SES is associated with lower verbal IQ in economically disadvantaged Hispanic children with SBM. Academic achievement is largely correlated with verbal IQ, but children with lower verbal IQ may partially compensate with higher nonverbal ability.
Swartwout
Maegan D
MD
Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204- 5355, USA. mdswartwout@uh.edu
Garnaat
Sarah L
SL
Myszka
Katherine A
KA
Fletcher
Jack M
JM
Dennis
Maureen
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012923:Social Class; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D044465:White People