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Aim: To find out specific characteristic of cognitive dysfunction and factors contributing to the tendency in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP) caused by periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). Study type: Retrospective, hospital-based. Methods:Thirty children with bilateral spastic CP whose levels of GMFCS and MACS were both between I and III were included in this study (16 males and 14 females, aged between 6 and 17 years). PVL was diagnosed by MRI, and cognitive profiles were assessed by WISC-III. To detect a significant difference, chi-square test was performed concerning each score of subscales. Distribution of the 12 primary index scores and correlation among them were also analyzed. Results: FIQ was higher than 70 in 63% of the children. Mean scores were FIQ 74, VIQ 91, and PIQ 60, and significant differences were found between every two quotients. Scores of POI and PSI were significantly lower than those of VCI and FDI. Although there was some significant correlations among several subtests, we could not find any common tendency in the distribution of scores of subtests across individuals. Conclusion: Although there was significant difference among IQs and scores of subscales as previously reported, no certain tendency was found as for the scores of subtests. It would be important to evaluate individual cognitive characteristics in detail and consider the results for special support education, because each individual has different strengths and weaknesses.

cerebral palsy, periventricular leukomalacia, cognitive dysfunction