A United Kingdom Population-Based Study of Intellectual Capacities in Children With and Without Soiling, Daytime Wetting, and Bed-wetting

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to examine differences in intellectual capacities between children with and without soiling, daytime wetting, and bed-wetting.METHODS. This study was based on a population of >6000 children (age range: 7 years 6 months to 9 years 3 months; median: 7 years 6 months) from the United Kingdom–based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Data on wetting and soiling were obtained from a questionnaire completed by parents. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Third Edition was administered at a research clinic.RESULTS. Bed-wetting was associated with lower Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Third Edition IQ scores compared with control subjects, particularly performance IQ. This difference remained after exclusion of children with an IQ of CONCLUSIONS. It is hypothesized that the differences in intellectual capacities between children with and without bed-wetting are associated with maturational deficits of the central nervous system. There was less evidence for differences in intellectual capacities between children with and without soiling and daytime wetting. The central nervous system is involved to a lesser extent in soiling and daytime wetting, because peripheral influences from the bladder and gut play a greater role.