The IQ profile (homogeneous versus heterogeneous) in children with high intellectual potential (HIP): what are the links with some emotional, interactional and neurodevelopmental disorders?
Résumé
Introduction
In clinical practice, some emotional, interactional and neurodevelopmental disorders are often
observed in children with high intellectual potential (HIP).
Objectives
The homogeneity of the cognitive profile often accompanies a good daily adaptation, so we
hypothesize that these disorders are more likely to affect children with HPI with a heterogeneous
profile than those with a homogeneous Wechsler-scale profile.This study aims to verify these
assumptions.
Methods
All children > 130 IQ, 7 to 15 years old were assessed with the Wechsler Intelligence scale for
children. We have established two groups, homogeneous IQ profile group (HOIQ, n= 13) and
heterogeneous IQ profile group (HEIQ, n= 24). The heterogeneous profile is defined by a
difference of at least 23 points between the higher and the lower index score. It was also
administrated Barn-Cohen’s Empathizing Quotient (EQ) and Autism spectrum Quotient (AQ) tests,
theMultiscore Depression Inventory for Children (MDI-C), the Beery Developmental Test of
Visual-Motor Integration (VMI), and a motor coordination test (jump) of the Vaivre-Douret
NeuroPsychoMotor functions battery (NP-MOT).
Results
We found significative differences (p≤.05) between the two groups: a higher score to the AQ test,
a lower score of visuomotricity and motor coordination, higher scores of depression symptoms,
in HEIQ group compared to HOIQ group.
Conclusions
Our results confirm the higher frequency of disorders in the heterogeneous profile group than in
the homogeneous profile group. They could also provide indicators for making a differential
diagnosis between the heterogeneous HPI group and people with high-level autism associated
with HIP.