Intellectual and perceptual-motor performance of children receiving prolonged home total parenteral nutrition

Extract: Intellectual and perceptual-motor functioning was studied in 12 children receiving prolonged home total parenteral nutrition. Children were between the ages of 4 years 2 months and 7 years 9 months. Average duration of total parenteral nutrition was 52.25 months (SD 15.55) with an average onset of 10.67 months (SD 8.99). Total parenteral nutrition was begun for eight of the children prior to or at approximately their first birthdate. Intelligence was assessed with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Revised. Perceptual-motor functioning was measured by the Beery Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration. All children functioned within the average range of intelligence, but the majority of children evidenced some deficits in perceptual-motor performance. This was particularly true for the older children (greater than or equal to 6 years). Home total parenteral nutrition onset and duration were unrelated to outcome. Medical complications, unrelated to home total parenteral nutrition, requiring lengthy and frequent hospitalizations were highly related to nonverbal intelligence and to perceptual-motor functioning. Although unrelated to perceptual-motor deficits, social class was highly associated with verbal and nonverbal intelligence.(author)