Cognitive functions in children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS).
Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is regarded as a benign form of epilepsy because of its usually favorable outcome, in terms of seizures. Eighteen children with BECTS were studied in terms of neuropsychological and learning abilities: intellectual quotient, oral language (phonological production, naming skills, verbal fluency and syntactic comprehension), drawing and visuo-spatial skills, visual and selective attention, verbal and visuo-spatial memory, reading, numeracy and spelling. The mean IQ of the population was within the normal range, but individual results were heterogeneous. Verbal functions and memory were normal. In contrast, drawing and visuo-spatial skills, attention and visuo-spatial memory were significantly weak compared to the normal range for age. Reading, numeracy and/or spelling ability were significantly delayed by one academic year or more in ten of the children. In conclusion, despite its benign outcome in terms of epilepsy, BECTS can be accompanied by specific cognitive disorders and low academic achievement.
Pinton
Florence
F
Rééducation Neurologique Infantile, Hôpital Bicêtre, Paris. florence.pinton@bct.aphp.fr
Ducot
Béatrice
B
Motte
Jacques
J
Arbuès
Anne-Sophie
AS
Barondiot
Catherine
C
Barthez
Marie-Anne
MA
Chaix
Yves
Y
Cheminal
Renée
R
Livet
Marie-Odile
MO
Penniello
Marie-José
MJ
Peudenier
Sylviane
S
de Saint-Martin
Anne
A
Billard
Catherine
C
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D004569:Electroencephalography; D019305:Epilepsy, Rolandic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014705:Verbal Behavior
D000927:Anticonvulsants