172 National Academy of Neuropsychology

Gallagher, R., Dech, B., & Bergtraum, M. Long Island Jewish Medical Center/Teachers College, Columbia University Follow-Up of Parietal-Occipital Damage in a Young Child: Cortical Blindness to Visual-Spatial Deficits and Their Impact on Early Achievement

This case study, unusual in its longitudinal design, reports on neuropsychological, psychiatric, and neurologi- cal follow-up of a B-year-old male who sustained parietal- occipital damage subsequent to cardiac arrests as compli- cations of a lightning strike. The report presents CAT scan, BEAM, neuro-opthamalogical, and mental status find- ings directly after the incident. Neuropsychological data gathered 7 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after the accident are reported and correlated to his school achievement and adjustment. The data indicate that the patient was initially disrupted in visual functioning (blindness), but this resolved into deficiencies in vis- ual-spatial functioning. The significant impact of his neuropsychological deficits on reading, spelling, and mathematics are detailed. Behaviorally, he manifested attentional difficulties that interfered with school ad- justment independent of other cognitive effects.

The discussion presents a review af the case’s impli- cations for the issues of recovery of function in chil- dren, recovery patterns of cortical blindness in chil- dren, and the impact of visual-spatial deficiencies on early academic achievement.

Gatten, S., Ball State University, Krug, D., Ball State University, Brooks, D. A., Learning Services Corporation, Davis, B., Ball State University, & Dean, R. S., Ball State University Factor analysis of the Halstead Reitan Neuropsychological Battery for Older Children

Studies of the factor structure of the Halstead Reitan Neuropsycho- logical Battery for Older Children have reported solutions ranging from 5 to 7 constructs. The current study examined the underlying factor structure of the HRNB-C using only tests from the battery itself with 800 learning disabled children. The results showed a four factor solu- tion to be the most heuristic. These dimensions were identified as Speed of Operation, Tactile-Motor Integration, Attention, and Visuo- Spatial Memory. When non-HRNB tests are excluded it was argued that four factors provide the best description of the underlying structure of the HRNB-C.