Intelligence structure and personality in various types of physical handicap in childhood and adolescence

Intelligence structure and personality were assessed in a sample of 104 physically disabled children of normal intelligence (IQ is greater than or equal to 85). Findings were compared to those of healthy controls matched by age, sex, rank order and number of siblings and socioeconomic status. Physically handicapped children had lower scores in all subtests of a multi-factorial intelligence test. Furthermore five different subgroups of physically disabled children could be discriminated along one factor marked by different variables of visual perception. Personality of the total group of handicapped children was different when compared to normal controls. This specific personality pattern may be labeled: lack of emotional integration into social environment without conflict. Various subgroups of physically handicapped children differed only little as far as personality is concerned.