title: Learning disorders in epilepsy.
abstract: Learning disorders (LD) are disorders interfering with academic performance or with daily living activities requiring reading, writing, or mathematical abilities in subjects with a normal intelligence quotient. The prevalence of LD in the general population has been found to be 2-10% and reading disorders are the most frequent subtype. Epilepsy is one of the commonest neurological disorders in childhood with an estimated prevalence in 4-5/1,000. Epilepsy is considered to be idiopathic or cryptogenic in approximately two-thirds of cases. LD are more common in people with epilepsy than in the general population: about 25% of patients with epilepsy are said to have LD. Various psychosocial, medication-related, and epilepsy-related factors may be associated with LD in epilepsy. LD can be either permanent or state-dependent. Permanent LD are caused by a brain lesion and/or a stable brain dysfunction. In contrast, state-dependent LD are potentially reversible and treatable; they are caused by epilepsy-related factors. If allowed to persist for a long period, a state-dependent LD may become permanent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Milano-Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy. beghi@marionegri.it
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beghi
authors.forename: Cesare Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cornaggia
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frigeni
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beghi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014481:United States