Final Note on a Case of Extreme Isolation

Anna, an extremely isolated girl described in 1940, died in 1942. By the time of her death she had made considerable progress, but she never achieved normality. Her slowness is probably explained by long isolation, poor training, and mental deficiency. Comparison with another case, a girl found in Ohio at the same age and under similar circumstances, suggests that Anna was deficient, and that, at least for some individuals, extreme isolation up to age six does not permanently impair socialization.