Social communication in children with epilepsy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

This study examined measures of social communication that involve the use of language in formulating and organizing thoughts and its relationship with seizure-related, developmental, cognitive, and behavioral variables in 92 children with complex partial seizure disorder (CPS), 51 with primary generalized epilepsy (PGE), and 117 normal children, aged 5.1-16.9 years.

METHODS:

Coding the children's speech samples with the Kiddie Formal Thought Disorder Rating Scale (Caplan et al., 1989) and Halliday and Hasan's (1976) analysis of cohesion demonstrated social communication deficits in both seizure disorder groups.

RESULTS:

The CPS patients had both formal thought disorder and cohesion deficits and the PGE group had mild cohesion deficits. IQ, as well as fronto-temporal and bilateral spike and wave activity were associated with the severity of the social communication deficits of the CPS group. The social communication deficits of the PGE group, however, were related to IQ and seizure control.

CONCLUSIONS:

Recurrent CPS and PGE and fronto-temporal localization of epileptic activity might impair the development of children's communication skills.

• Authors: Rochelle Caplan, Donald Guthrie, Scott Komo, Prabha Siddarth, Sirichai Chayasirisobhon, Harley Kornblum, Ramen Sankar, Rebecca Hansen, Wendy Mitchell, W Donald Shields
• Journal: Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines (J Child Psychol Psychiatry) Vol. 43 Issue 2 Pg. 245-53 (Feb 2002) ISSN: 0021-9630 [Print] England
• PMID: 11902603 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Communication
• Epilepsy, Complex Partial (diagnosis, psychology)
• Epilepsy, Generalized (diagnosis, psychology)
• Female
• Humans
• Language Development Disorders (diagnosis, psychology)
• Male
• Neuropsychological Tests
• Social Behavior
• Thinking