Neurocognitive Functioning of Preschool Children with ’Epilepsy Only’
RANTANEN, KATI (2007)
2007
Psykologia - Psychology
Yhteiskuntatieteellinen tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2007-05-23
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-17098
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-17098
Tiivistelmä
Purpose There are only few studies concerning cognitive functioning of small children with ‘epilepsy only’. The aim of this study was to describe neurocognitive functioning of 3-6 year old children with ‘epilepsy only’, i.e. children with epilepsy but without any associated neurological disorder or chronic illness.
Methods The intellectual (IQ) and neurocognitive functioning of the children with ‘epilepsy only’ (n=13) was compared with that of matched healthy controls (n=13). The Wechsler’s Primary and Preschool Scale of Intelligence-Revised (WPPSI-R) and the Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment (NEPSY) were administered. Neurocognitive functions of Attention, Language, Sensomotor, Visuospatial and Memory were included in the assessment.
Results There were statistically significant differences between the study and the control group in Verbal IQ and Full scale IQ, but no difference between the two groups was found in Performance IQ. VIQ of children with ‘epilepsy only’ differed also statistically significantly from WPPSI-R normative data, but no differences between PIQ or FIQ and normative data were found. Children with ‘epilepsy only’ had subtle neurocognitive difficulties in verbal short-term memory (p < .01) and attention (p < .05) compared to healthy children.
Conclusions The intellectual functioning of children with ‘epilepsy only’ was comparable to healthy controls. However, children with early onset (i.e. before or during preschool age) ‘epilepsy only’ seem to have difficulties in general language development and special impairments in verbal short-term memory and attention skills compared to healthy preschool children. Psychological screening and detailed neuropsychological assessment are suggested for clinical practice.
Keywords: ‘epilepsy only’, neurocognitive function, preschool children
Methods The intellectual (IQ) and neurocognitive functioning of the children with ‘epilepsy only’ (n=13) was compared with that of matched healthy controls (n=13). The Wechsler’s Primary and Preschool Scale of Intelligence-Revised (WPPSI-R) and the Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment (NEPSY) were administered. Neurocognitive functions of Attention, Language, Sensomotor, Visuospatial and Memory were included in the assessment.
Results There were statistically significant differences between the study and the control group in Verbal IQ and Full scale IQ, but no difference between the two groups was found in Performance IQ. VIQ of children with ‘epilepsy only’ differed also statistically significantly from WPPSI-R normative data, but no differences between PIQ or FIQ and normative data were found. Children with ‘epilepsy only’ had subtle neurocognitive difficulties in verbal short-term memory (p < .01) and attention (p < .05) compared to healthy children.
Conclusions The intellectual functioning of children with ‘epilepsy only’ was comparable to healthy controls. However, children with early onset (i.e. before or during preschool age) ‘epilepsy only’ seem to have difficulties in general language development and special impairments in verbal short-term memory and attention skills compared to healthy preschool children. Psychological screening and detailed neuropsychological assessment are suggested for clinical practice.
Keywords: ‘epilepsy only’, neurocognitive function, preschool children