THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INFANTILE HYPERCALCEMIA: A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

Abstract

A sample of 23 children aged seven to 12 years with diagnoses of infantile hypercalcaemia was assessed on a battery of psychological tests and rating scales in an attempt to describe the psychological characteristics of this disorder. All children were found to have a mild or moderate degree of mental handicap. As a group, their expressive language skills were superior to their verbal comprehension. They displayed a high degree of behaviour and emotional disorders, most notably in terms of high levels of activity. Most children were reported as being highly sensitive to noise. This study clarifies some of the psychological correlates of infantile hypercalcaemia and some implications for management are suggested.