Neuropsychological Aspects of Epilepsy

Abstract

Although estimates of the prevalance of childhood epilepsy in the United States vary, review of a number of epidemiological studies suggests that this condition may affect up to one million children (Hartlage & Telzrow, 1984). As for normal children, children with epilepsy differ from one another on a variety of dimensions. Unlike normal children, however, children with epilepsy are subject to three conditions that contribute to increased variability. Two of these conditions are primarily neuropsychological in nature. One involves the fact that epilepsy is symptomatic of some type of brain dysfunction, and such factors as locus, type, extent, age of onset, and seizure manifestations may each or in combination have implications for how the child’s adaptive behavior may be affected. The other neuropsychological condition involves the effects of anticonvulsant drug therapy on the child’s development or manifestation of adaptive behavior. The third condition represents an interaction between such social factors as the reactions of the child’s parents, peers, and teachers; the neuropsychological substrates of appropriate adaptation to the requirements of given ages; and the effects of anticonvulsant medication on both peer response and the child’s potential for utilization of underlying neuropsychological assets. Although for a given child with epilepsy these three conditions are likely to be interactive, it may be helpful to overview each condition as a separate entity before attempting to address the more complex issues involved in the interactions of these conditions.