Is Cystic Fibrosis linked with High IQ?

[longhorn4life]

I don't know about other people or if there's really any connection, but I have a "genius or near genius" IQ (140 or higher). I know it doesn't have to do with the disease simply making me strive harder, etc. like others suggested because I wasn't diagnosed until I was 19 and I've had people testing my intelligence since I was 6. My opinon on your son skipping a grade is this: ask him what he wants. I know I had the opportunity to skip a grade when I was 6 (and again when I was 8) and my mother refused to let me because I was already smaller than the other kids and she was afraid they'd make fun of me for it and my age, as well as being afraid I would do things I shouln't since I'd be hanging out with older kids. I was so upset and I never got over it. I still haven't forgiven her for forcing me to be "normal" when I had the opportunity to be special and extraordinary.

 

[longhorn4life]

I don't know about other people or if there's really any connection, but I have a "genius or near genius" IQ (140 or higher). I know it doesn't have to do with the disease simply making me strive harder, etc. like others suggested because I wasn't diagnosed until I was 19 and I've had people testing my intelligence since I was 6. My opinon on your son skipping a grade is this: ask him what he wants. I know I had the opportunity to skip a grade when I was 6 (and again when I was 8) and my mother refused to let me because I was already smaller than the other kids and she was afraid they'd make fun of me for it and my age, as well as being afraid I would do things I shouln't since I'd be hanging out with older kids. I was so upset and I never got over it. I still haven't forgiven her for forcing me to be "normal" when I had the opportunity to be special and extraordinary.

 

[Fran]

I have 3 sons, the youngest has cf. They haven't had IQ tests, however academically my middle son has been the highest achiever, followed by the eldest then the youngest. He is above average, just is a little below his big brothers. Has missed very little school because of his cf. My experience is that cf is not linked to high or low IQ, it's a separate issue. I wouldn't say he is more mature or resilient because of cf either, possibly the opposite. Or maybe just a typical 15 year old.

Just my experience, for what it's worth.

 

[Fran]

I have 3 sons, the youngest has cf. They haven't had IQ tests, however academically my middle son has been the highest achiever, followed by the eldest then the youngest. He is above average, just is a little below his big brothers. Has missed very little school because of his cf. My experience is that cf is not linked to high or low IQ, it's a separate issue. I wouldn't say he is more mature or resilient because of cf either, possibly the opposite. Or maybe just a typical 15 year old.

Just my experience, for what it's worth.

 

[Fran]

I have 3 sons, the youngest has cf. They haven't had IQ tests, however academically my middle son has been the highest achiever, followed by the eldest then the youngest. He is above average, just is a little below his big brothers. Has missed very little school because of his cf. My experience is that cf is not linked to high or low IQ, it's a separate issue. I wouldn't say he is more mature or resilient because of cf either, possibly the opposite. Or maybe just a typical 15 year old.
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<br />Just my experience, for what it's worth.

 

[hmw]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I do think having chronic illnesses develop a maturity and an advanced understanding of sciences. All of my kids are extremely advanced in science knowledge from learning about both M's CF issues and their other brother's Hemophilia issues.</end quote></div>
Good point, TestifytoLove. My oldest son has always been pretty interested in science & nature- not unusual for a kid- but he has been able to sit and have an adult-level conversation about the neurological system and developmental disabilities since he was about 10 and shocked many people with this. Is he some kind of genius? As much as I'd like to think so <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> , no... him and his sister just happen to have epilepsy (his sister a more severe form along with the disabilities) and like his mother, he wanted to understand what was going on with himself, and he absorbed every word of what was being said at all those dr appointments he sat through. (He's had psychoeducational evaluation btw, including IQ testing, and he's solidly 'average'.)

Then last year when science included a unit on genetics, he gave the class an impromptu lecture on the CFTR gene and how it worked and why, EXACTLY, all the cf treatments are done and what would happen if they weren't. He impressed me with his knowledge, actually- it was obvious he had absorbed more than I realized, and read more of MY stuff than I realized. He was also aware of more of the 'prognosis' of CF than I'd shared with him> again, there is the maturity piece some kids will have comes from knowing a bit too much vs. most kids their age, but it is what it is. But he's not a genius... it's a topic of interest, expanded upon by necessity.

 

[hmw]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I do think having chronic illnesses develop a maturity and an advanced understanding of sciences. All of my kids are extremely advanced in science knowledge from learning about both M's CF issues and their other brother's Hemophilia issues.</end quote>
Good point, TestifytoLove. My oldest son has always been pretty interested in science & nature- not unusual for a kid- but he has been able to sit and have an adult-level conversation about the neurological system and developmental disabilities since he was about 10 and shocked many people with this. Is he some kind of genius? As much as I'd like to think so <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> , no... him and his sister just happen to have epilepsy (his sister a more severe form along with the disabilities) and like his mother, he wanted to understand what was going on with himself, and he absorbed every word of what was being said at all those dr appointments he sat through. (He's had psychoeducational evaluation btw, including IQ testing, and he's solidly 'average'.)

Then last year when science included a unit on genetics, he gave the class an impromptu lecture on the CFTR gene and how it worked and why, EXACTLY, all the cf treatments are done and what would happen if they weren't. He impressed me with his knowledge, actually- it was obvious he had absorbed more than I realized, and read more of MY stuff than I realized. He was also aware of more of the 'prognosis' of CF than I'd shared with him> again, there is the maturity piece some kids will have comes from knowing a bit too much vs. most kids their age, but it is what it is. But he's not a genius... it's a topic of interest, expanded upon by necessity.

 

[hmw]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I do think having chronic illnesses develop a maturity and an advanced understanding of sciences. All of my kids are extremely advanced in science knowledge from learning about both M's CF issues and their other brother's Hemophilia issues.</end quote>
<br />Good point, TestifytoLove. My oldest son has always been pretty interested in science & nature- not unusual for a kid- but he has been able to sit and have an adult-level conversation about the neurological system and developmental disabilities since he was about 10 and shocked many people with this. Is he some kind of genius? As much as I'd like to think so <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> , no... him and his sister just happen to have epilepsy (his sister a more severe form along with the disabilities) and like his mother, he wanted to understand what was going on with himself, and he absorbed every word of what was being said at all those dr appointments he sat through. (He's had psychoeducational evaluation btw, including IQ testing, and he's solidly 'average'.)
<br />
<br />Then last year when science included a unit on genetics, he gave the class an impromptu lecture on the CFTR gene and how it worked and why, EXACTLY, all the cf treatments are done and what would happen if they weren't. He impressed me with his knowledge, actually- it was obvious he had absorbed more than I realized, and read more of MY stuff than I realized. He was also aware of more of the 'prognosis' of CF than I'd shared with him> again, there is the maturity piece some kids will have comes from knowing a bit too much vs. most kids their age, but it is what it is. But he's not a genius... it's a topic of interest, expanded upon by necessity.