Three-years longitudinal data set for hemiparesic and control children

A relationship between finger gnosia and numerical abilities has been well documented in the literature. It has been shown for example that five- to six-year-old children arithmetic capacities are better predicted by their results to finger discrimination tests than by more classic intelligence tests. One possible explanation to account for this relationship is that early finger counting constitutes the foundation of more developed mathematical abilities. The object of the current project is to go further in the examination of the relationship between numbers and fingers. To do so, basic and more complex numerical abilities will be examined in children with cerebral palsy of normal intelligence. Those children, who present motor deficits, have the characteristic to have more or less difficulties in using their fingers. Through a transversal and longitudinal approach, 5- to 14-year-old diplegic, hemiplegic and quadriplegic children will be assessed on their general cognitive abilities and their numerical abilities. If numerical abilities are indeed partly rooted in early finger use, they should be impaired in children with cerebral palsy. Moreover, the severity of the impairment should increase as a function of the difficulties children encounter in finger use. Children will be tested five times over 3 years and their performance will be compared to those of normal developing children. This will allow us to determine whether or not potential numerical lags in children with cerebral palsy increase or decrease across development.