Abstract
The cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive functioning of 12 men with fragile X syndrome (aged 23 to 62 years) was systematically assessed and compared to two matched groups of retarded men without fragile X syndrome residing at the same institution. The fragile X group was largely indistinguishable from the camparison groups on the cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive measures. Fragile X patients were, however, significantly more likely to have achieved levels of adaptive functioning commensurate with their intellectual abilities. Fragile X subjects who had similarly affected siblings emerged as significantly higher-functioning in all areas than Fragile X subjects who did not have affected siblings. These findings are discussed with respect to future research.
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We wish to express our sincere appreciation to the staff of the Southbury Training School for their friendly assistance and cooperation throughout this study: most especially to the cottage staff, Edward Benjamin, Richard Witham, Dr. Jean Gino, and Dr. Carol Carter. We also thank Dr. Robert Hodapp for his careful reading of this manuscript. To our research nurse, Sharon Ort, research associate Wendy Marans, and research assistants Deborah Soriano, Elaine Algiers, and Karen Beebe, we also express our appreciation. This research was supported by the NIMH Mental Health Clinical Research Center grant No. MR30929, the Children's Clinical Research Center grant No. RROO125, NICHD grant No. HP03008-18, the MacArthur Foundation, the Merck Foundation, and U.S. Public Health Service grant No. HD-11624.
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Dykens, E., Leckman, J., Paul, R. et al. Cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive functioning in fragile X and non-fragile X retarded men. J Autism Dev Disord 18, 41–52 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02211817
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02211817