A Comparison of Selected Cleft Palate Children and Their Siblings on the Variables of Intelligence, Hearing Loss, and Visual-Perceptual-Motor Abilities

Abstract

The first investigation of the intellectual functioning of cleft palate children was conducted by Wolstadt (23) in 1931. This study suggested that the intelligence of cleft palate children is within normal limits. Subsequent studies (7, 9, 10, I], 16, 18) have also reported normal intelligence for the cleft palate groups they examined, although statistically signifi— cant differences in intelligence quotients (IQ) were found between cleft palate and non—cleft palate children. The higher IQ scores favored the non-cleft palate groups. Lewis (7) and Ruess (16"), have compared the intelligence of cleft palate children with that of their siblings. Lewis (9) found a significant difference between a cleft palate group and a sibling group on the Stanford-Bi-net Intelligence Scale with higher scores reported for the sibling group. Ruess (16) reported a significant difference in Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) Verbal and Full Scale IQ's, but not in Performance IQ's for the two groups. The higher intelligence quotients favored the sibling group. Neither of the studies which included siblings as control subjects have reported audiometric information for either group. Hearing status would seem an important consideration since Means and Irwin (10) found a significant difference between Stanford-Binet IQ's for normal hearing cleft palate children and cleft palate children with poor hearing. In addition to studying overall differences in verbal and performance IQ's on intelligence tests, obtaining specific information concerning under-Ms. Marilyn M. Lamb is affiliated with the Special School District of St. Louis County Mo., 9820