Intellectual Abilities in a Large Sample of Children with Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome: An Update

Background: Learning disabilities are one of the most consistently reported features in Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome (VCFS). Earlier reports on IQ in children with VCFS were, however, limited by small sample sizes and ascertainment biases. The aim of the present study was therefore to replicate these earlier findings and to investigate intellectual abilities in a large sample of children with VCFS. In addition, we aimed to identify factors that may contribute to within-syndrome variability in cognitive performance, such as the mode of inheritance of the deletion, sex, the presence of a heart defect and psychiatric morbidity. Method: IQ data of 103 children with VCFS (56 males, 47 females) were collected. Psychiatric diagnosis was additionally recorded. Results: Children with VCFS had a mean full-scale IQ (FSIQ) of 73.48 (range: 50-109). There were no effects of sex, presence of a heart defect and psychiatric condition on intellectual profile. Inheritance of the deletion affected cognitive performance in VCFS, with children with familial deletions having significant lower FSIQ than children with a "de novo" deletion. Conclusions: Learning disabilities are very common in children with VCFS, although marked within syndrome variability is noted. One factor contributing to this variability seems to be the mode of inheritance of the deletion.