Children Exposed To Adversity At Or Before Age 7 Had Lower Neurocognitive Test Scores

Children up to seven years of age who are exposed to early life adversity scored lower on neurological and cognitive tests than children who experienced minimal or no adversity. Children who experienced early life adversity generally scored lower on tests of visual-motor and sensory-motor skills, listening-vocal skills, intelligence, and academic achievement.

Children exposed to crowded housing and poverty had the lowest scores on a test of sensory-motor skills and a test of listening and vocal functioning. Children in the family loss, instability, and poverty group had the lowest intelligence and arithmetic achievement scores.

Early life adversity . . .