Preliminary observations on language and learning in XXY boys.

Difficulties with processing, storing and retrieving, and producing linguistic information were particularly evident among the XXY boys. These decrements in abilities were associated with decreased achievement in a variety of reading and spelling tasks in this study as well as in that of Graham et al [4]. The data suggest that a continuum of language disability is present throughout the early life of these children and is associated with the XXY anomaly. Furthermore, when considered in relation to cross-sectional observations on older Turner syndrome patients, these data suggest the possibility that pathologic variations in sex chromosome complements may differentially affect brain development and subsequent functioning of the children.