The aim of this investigation was to follow up a sample
of exceptionally short but medically
healthy children, and a normal comparison group, previously studied at
4 years of age. They
lived in an inner-city area which was, on objective criteria, seriously
disadvantaged in
socioeconomic terms. When first seen at 4 years, cases were significantly
impaired in
cognitive abilities relative to comparisons, although firstborns were much
less severely
affected. Of the original 46 cases, 45 were assessed again at 11 years.
Most continued to live
in the same geographical area. Case children remained exceptionally short,
even when
parental stature was taken into account, although a degree of catch-up
had occurred. One
third had special educational needs, and a similar proportion had been
referred for speech
therapy. Verbal and nonverbal cognitive skills of both case and comparison
children had, on
the whole, changed little and group differences persisted. In conclusion,
short normal
children from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are at high risk
of educational
failure at elementary school.