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SummaryThis paper reviews the literature on the "cocktail party" syndrome, a language disorder apparently specific to children with hydrocephalus. The results of detailed psychological testing at the age of five showed that children with the cocktail party syndrome can be distinguished from other cases of spina bifida, as having significantly lower Wechsler Intelligence Test scores and very retarded social skills. Visual perceptual abilities were also significantly poorer. The reported verbal fluency of children with the cocktail party syndrome did not, however, lead to superior scores on the Reynell Expressive Language Scales, for these children found difficulty in using language creatively in spite of good syntax. Further assessment at the age of seven revealed these children to be significantly poorer than other cases of spina bifida in reading, spelling, arithmetic, and they had shorter concentration spans and slightly more behaviour problems in school according to their teachers. There was evidence that the cocktail party syndrome declines with age and its presence at the age often is diagnostically significant of a subnormal level of intelligence. Children with this syndrome are more likely to be female and to have more severe physical handicaps. It is suggested that the results of this survey explain certain controversies in the literature.