Cognitive Development

For the first time, through behavioural measures we have explored cognitive skills in children with limb differences.

Findings:

In 50 limb-different children, we found cognitive ability to be in the normal range. This was true for both verbal comprehension, measured by the British Picture Vocabulary Scale, and for visuospatial processing, measured by the Ravens Coloured Progressive Matrices.

In a computerised puzzle game, we also found that limb-different children solved puzzles as fast as limb-typical children. However, they tended to think for a little longer before choosing a first solution and between tries, solving the problem in fewer attempts. This is a different, perhaps more ‘thoughtful’ style of problem-solving.

We find typical cognitive abilities in limb-different children.

We also find different approaches to problem-solving. Limb-different children tend to spend more time thinking problems through before beginning to tackle them, and this produces good outcomes.