ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Pediatrica 2010 December;62(6):559-63

Copyright © 2010 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Specific learning disorder in the primary epilepsies of childhood

Battistini M. C., La Briola F., Menini S., Lenti C. ✉

Unit of Child Neuropsychiatry, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of learning disorders in children with idiopathic epilepsy.
METHODS: The study enrolled 16 children with idiopathic epilepsy, 8 with absence and 8 with rolandic epilepsy. This was a standardized neuropsychological assessment with particular attention to learning performance (reading and writing skills/number processing).
RESULTS: Fourteen out of 16 subjects resulted with a specific learning disability, although specific patterns have not been identified.
CONCLUSION: The study confirms the higher incidence of learning disorder in children with epilepsy (in front of normal prevalence, 2-10%). The importance of complete neuropsychological evaluation in children with focal or generalized epilepsy was highlighted.