Pathology type does not predict language lateralization in children with medically intractable epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
We examined potential differences in the effects of pathology type on language lateralization in pediatric epilepsy.


METHODS
We examined findings from intracarotid sodium amobarbital procedure (IAP/Wada) in a large consecutive sample of children with refractory epilepsy. Subjects were assigned to one of three pathology groups: developmental (n = 28), acquired (n = 26), and tumor (n = 20); groups were compared for language lateralization.


RESULTS
Rates of atypical language lateralization did not differ across groups. Greater than half of the subjects with left hemisphere insults and seizure onset before 6 years of age had atypical language lateralization, independent of pathology type.


CONCLUSIONS
Atypical language lateralization may occur in the context of developmental, acquired, and/or tumor pathology.
Kadis
Darren S
DS
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Kerr
Elizabeth N
EN
Rutka
James T
JT
Snead
O Carter
OC
Weiss
Shelly K
SK
Smith
Mary Lou
ML
D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male