Factors associated with atypical speech representation in children with intractable epilepsy.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between hemispheric speech dominance and several demographic and seizure variables in a large sample of children (N=75) who underwent the intracarotid amobarbital procedure (IAP) prior to surgery. The findings were similar to results previously reported in adults and children, suggesting that variables, such as age at seizure onset, laterality of seizure focus, location of seizure focus and handedness are related to the presentation of atypical speech representation in children with epilepsy. The impact of multiple variables in determining the risk for atypical speech dominance was also assessed. The results demonstrated an increased probability of atypical speech representation in children with a greater number of risk variables, suggesting the need for further investigations in this area.
Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Ont., L5L 1C6, Mississauga, Canada.
Jennifer
J
Saltzman-Benaiah
Katreena
K
Scott
Mary Lou
ML
Smith
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012640:Seizures / Q000503:physiopathology; D013060:Speech