Journal article
Attention deficits in children with epilepsy: Preliminary findings
Epilepsy & behavior, Vol.67, pp.7-12
02/2017
PMID: 28086190
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Objective
Attention difficulties are a common clinical complaint among children with epilepsy. We aimed to compare a range of attentional abilities between groups of children with two common epilepsy syndromes, Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) and Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy (IGE), and to healthy controls. We also investigated whether epilepsy factors (laterality of seizure focus, epilepsy onset, duration, and severity) were related to attentional abilities.
Methods
Multiple dimensions of attention (selective, sustained, and divided attention and attentional control) were assessed directly with standardized neuropsychological measures in 101 children aged 6–16 years (23 children with TLE, 20 with IGE and 58 healthy controls). Attention was also assessed indirectly, via a parent-report measure.
Results
Children with TLE performed worse than children with IGE (p = 0.013) and healthy controls (p < 0.001) on a test of attentional control, but no between-group differences were apparent on tests of other attentional abilities. Compared to healthy controls, greater attention problems were reported by parents of children with TLE (p = 0.006) and IGE (p = 0.012). Left-hemisphere seizure focus and greater epilepsy severity were associated with poorer attentional control and sustained-divided attention, respectively, but no other epilepsy factors were associated with attentional abilities.
Significance
These findings suggest that children with localization-related epilepsy, but not generalized epilepsy, may be at risk of deficits in attentional control. Interventions aimed at improving attentional control may be targeted at children with localization-related epilepsy, particularly those with a left-hemisphere seizure focus, who appear to be particularly susceptible to this type of attentional deficit.
Details
- Title
- Attention deficits in children with epilepsy: Preliminary findings
- Creators
- Michael B. Gascoigne - Australian College of Applied PsychologyMary Lou Smith - University of TorontoBelinda Barton - Children's Hospital at WestmeadRichard Webster - Children's Hospital at WestmeadDeepak Gill - Children's Hospital at WestmeadSuncica Lah - University of Sydney
- Publication Details
- Epilepsy & behavior, Vol.67, pp.7-12
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Identifiers
- 991013092666902368
- Copyright
- © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article