Follow-up of 25 unselected children with sex chromosome abnormalities to age 12.

Twenty-five unselected children with sex chromosome abnormalities have been followed to a mean age of 12 years. The IQ distribution was slightly below the normal level at the age of 4 to 7, but at the age of 8 to 11 the IQ distribution had improved to within normal limits. We interpret this to be due to the provision of information and counseling to the parents, and use of all available resources for stimulation of the children, including both parental resources and kindergarten, school, and social system resources. All the children attended regular schools. Remedial teaching was given to slightly more than one-third of the children in mathematics and reading. The children were average or above average at school, irrespective of karyotype, if they had a very good home with parents who had been willing and able to follow our counseling, and if the children had been given stimulation, remedial teaching, and speech therapy as and when needed. Parents with a child with a sex chromosome abnormality usually need information, counseling, and assistance. The type and magnitude of this assistance depend on the individual child, the specific sex chromosome anomaly, and the parents' own resources, psychologically, socially, and otherwise.