Abstract
To evaluate intellectual functions of epileptic children, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) was performed on 69 children with epilepsy, and the test results were compared with their clinical symptoms and electroencephalographical findings.
Both verbal IQ (VIQ) and performance IQ (PIQ) were significantly lower in the symptomatic group than in the idiopathic or cryptogenic groups, and also significantly lower in patients receivingpolytherapy than monotherapy. PIQ was significantly low in patients treated with carbamazepine (CBZ), in those with poor control of seizures, in clumsy children, and cases with poor performance on visuo-motor tests. In the last two categories of patients there was an increased difference between VIQ and PIQ (discrepancy), and profile analysis revealed an impairment in non-verbal cognition and visual organization. On EEG records the patients with frontopolar (Fp) or frontal (F) focus had a significantly lower PIQ and an increased discrepancy. Migration of the epileptic focus during the periodic monitoring of EEG was also an important factor for an increased discrepancy. Furthermore, profile analysis suggested the impairment of the functions of the cerebral cortex associated with epileptic foci.
These results indicate that either motor disability, such as clumsiness and minor motor disturbance, or epileptic focus on EEG are important factors affecting the assessment of neuropsychological aspects in enilentic children.
