Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42052220›Full record

ArticleClinical neuropsychiatry2026

Intellectual Profiles in Children with Unilateral and Bilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Multilevel Analysis of the Wisc-Iv Scale.

Maria Chiara Di Lieto, Costanza Rufini, Elisa Matteucci, Benedetta Del Lucchese, Elena Beani, Veronica Barzacchi, Antea Scrocco, Chiara Pecini, Giuseppina Sgandurra

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical neuropsychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Maria Chiara Di LietoDepartment of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3874-3611
Costanza RufiniDepartment Of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology (FORLILPSI), Firenze, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8180-8965
Elisa MatteucciDepartment of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy.
Benedetta Del LuccheseDepartment of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy.
Elena BeaniDepartment of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy.
Veronica BarzacchiDepartment of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy.
Antea ScroccoDepartment of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy.
Chiara PeciniDepartment Of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology (FORLILPSI), Firenze, Italy.
Giuseppina SgandurraDepartment of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder primarily affecting motor functioning and often accompanied by cognitive impairments. Although intellectual profiles in children with CP are known to be heterogeneous, standard intelligence assessments often rely on a single global IQ score, which may obscure important intra-individual differences and limit clinical usefulness. This study aimed to explore intellectual functioning in children with unilateral and bilateral spastic cerebral palsy using a detailed multi-level analysis to examine how motor impairments may influence performance on WISC-IV indices and subtests. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 48 children aged 6-15 years with spastic cerebral palsy (24 unilateral, 24 bilateral). Inclusion required at least one WISC-IV index score above 80. Intellectual functioning was assessed through Full Scale IQ, four cognitive indices (verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory, processing speed), and individual subtests. Participants were classified by cerebral palsy type and gross motor function level. Descriptive and comparative statistics identified significant group differences. Results: Intellectual profiles showed marked heterogeneity. Over half of the children showed marked discrepancies among WISC-IV index scores, making the Full Scale IQ difficult to interpret as a representation of their overall cognitive functioning. Working Memory and Processing Speed were the most frequently impaired indices. Processing Speed deficits were consistent across CP types and motor levels, while Working Memory impairments were more pronounced in children with bilateral CP. Perceptual and verbal reasoning differences were more evident in bilateral cases. Greater motor impairment correlated with lower Perceptual Reasoning and Processing Speed scores, highlighting the influence of motor functioning on performance. Conclusions: Detailed, multi-level assessments of WISC-IV performance provides a clearer understanding of cognitive functioning in children with CP. Considering indices and subtests in relation to motor constraints helps distinguish true cognitive abilities from motor-related limitations, supporting accurate diagnosis and targeted interventions.

Indexed as

cerebral palsycognitive assessmentintellectual profilemotor impairmentWISC-IVworking memory

Identifiers

PMID42052220
PMCPMC13116283

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.