title: The neuropsychological and language profile of children with benign rolandic epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE) has an excellent prognosis for seizures, but recent research has raised concerns using cognition as an outcome measure. Methodologic problems related to recruitment bias and assessment processes are evident in previous studies. With well-defined criteria for inclusion and comprehensive assessment, the aim of this study was to define the cognitive profile of children with BRE and to assess the effect of interictal EEG activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (n=42) were recruited from six EEG laboratories. The EEG features analyzed were spike frequency, trains, and laterality. Comprehensive neuropsychological and language assessments were conducted. Group means on cognitive measures were compared with normative means. Tests were correlated with EEG features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study demonstrated that children with BRE have normal intelligence and language ability. However, a specific pattern of difficulties in memory and phonologic awareness was found. Furthermore, a large proportion of children had disproportionate scores in these areas compared with intellectual and language ability. EEG features were minimally associated with cognitive difficulties, and no correlation was found with memory indices and tests of phonologic awareness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some children with BRE have specific difficulties in memory and phonologic processing skills, not explained by interictal activity. We recommend that pediatricians ask about academic performance specifically in areas of prereading, reading, spelling, and memory. If difficulties are suspected, assessment targeting phonologic awareness and memory are recommended, as they may not be reflected in overall intellectual and language ability. Difficulties in phonologic awareness affect literacy, and memory problems affect academic performance.
authors.affiliation: School of Women's and Children's Health, University of NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Northcott
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berroya
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabaz
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Batchelor
authors.forename: Andrew F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Bleasel
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Ann M E
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bye
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019305:Epilepsy, Rolandic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007804:Language Development; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011379:Prognosis