22q11.2 deletion syndrome: are motor deficits more than expected for IQ level?
OBJECTIVE
To examine motor function in children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2) and a Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) comparable control group.


METHODS
This study was part of a prospective study of neuropsychological function in children 9 to 15 years of age with 22q11.2 and community control subjects and included children from these two populations with comparable FSIQs.


RESULTS
Verbal IQs on the WISC-R for 40 children with 22q11.2 (88.4) and 24 community control subjects (87.2) were not different (P=.563). However, the performance IQs were (22q11.2; 81.1 vs community controls; 89.3; P<.001). On the Visual Motor Inventory, there was no difference between the standard scores of the two groups (22q11.2; 93.0 vs community control subjects; 98.1; P=.336) but on the motor coordination part of the Visual Motor Inventory, the scores of the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome group were lower (77.2 vs 89.3; P=.002). On the general neurologic examination (P=.906), the tone examination (P=.705), and the ball skills part of the Motor Battery, (P=.378), there were no differences. However, on the axial stability part of the Motor Battery, the children with 22q11.2 exhibited less good balance (P=.026).


CONCLUSIONS
School-aged children with 22q11.2 have specific motor deficits in axial stability and graphomotor skills.
Roizen
Nancy J
NJ
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, the Center for the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Study of Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome and the Communications Disorder Unit, State University of New York-Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA. nancy.roizen@uhhospitals.org
Higgins
Anne M
AM
Antshel
Kevin M
KM
Fremont
Wanda
W
Shprintzen
Robert
R
Kates
Wendy R
WR
D002648:Child; D002892:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 / Q000235:genetics*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires