The characteristics of patients with encephaloceles.

Some of the intellectual, physical and family characteristics of 72 patients with encephaloceles were examined. Their numbers reached a peak in the 1960s and have declined dramatically since then. 70% of the patients were female. Many of the children had additional problems including hydrocephalus (34%), severe visual impairments (34%), inability to walk (21%), and urinary incontinence (13%). Their mean IQ was 65.2, and the males tended to be more physically and intellectually disabled than the females.