Early detection and cognitive rescue of abused children
Mirabal, B.; De Jesús, H.
Boletin de la Asociacion Medica de Puerto Rico 82(5): 200-203
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-4849 PMID: 2375809 Document Number: 700376
The abused child may manifest deficiencies in his cognitive development as a result of the abuse. In this study, 22 children with a confirmed diagnosis of physical abuse and/or negligence were evaluated with the Mental Scale of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and reevaluated subsequently. The mean age of the children in the initial phase was 8.4 months. The initial mental development index (MDI) was 98.6 +/- 22.8. The reevaluation was performed within a mean period of 10.8 months. The MDI at reevaluation was 97.9 +/- 23.8. The study did not detect significant cognitive deficiencies in these children. We conclude that early detection and intervention in the abused child favors an adequate cognitive development.