title: Visual-cognitive processing deficits in pediatric multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children with multiple sclerosis (MS) can suffer significant cognitive deficits. This study investigates the sensitivity and validity in pediatric MS of two visual processing tests borrowed from the adult literature, the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMTR) and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that visual processing is disproportionately impacted in pediatric MS by comparing performance with that of healthy controls on the BVMTR and SDMT.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 88 participants (43 MS, 45 controls) using a neuropsychological assessment battery including measures of intelligence, language, visual memory, and processing speed. Patients and demographically matched controls were compared to determine which tests are most sensitive in pediatric MS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences were found between the MS and control groups on BVMTR Total Learning (t (84) = 4.04, p  <  0.001, d  =  0.87), BVMTR Delayed Recall (t (84) = 4.45, p < 0.001, d = 0.96), and SDMT (t (38) = 2.19, p = 0.035, d = 0.69). No significant differences were found between groups on confrontation naming or general intellectual ability. Validity coefficients exploring correlation between BVMTR, SDMT, and disease characteristics were consistent with the adult literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that BVMTR and SDMT may be useful in assessing children and adolescents with MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Smerbeck
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parrish
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serafin
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weinstock-Guttman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoogs
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Krupp
authors.forename: R H B
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Benedict
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D007802:Language; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*