title: Visual cognitive function in infants with intractable epilepsy before and after surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One purpose of pediatric epilepsy surgery is to improve psychomotor development. However, few methods are available for evaluating cognitive function in infants with severe developmental delays. We used the following battery of tests to evaluate visual cognitive function of infants following surgery for intractable epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following battery of tests were used to evaluate eight patients before and 1 month after surgery: (1) Erhardt Developmental Vision Assessment (EDVA); (2) evaluation of ocular pursuit for a flashing LED toy; (3) three visual acuity tests preferential looking procedure, optokinetic nystagmus, and Sheridan's Test for Young Children and Retarded balls vision test; and (4) existing developmental test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EDVA scores and ocular pursuit score with a flashing LED toy showed the same trends with developmental age as the existing developmental tests. However, in some patients, the EDVA score and ocular pursuit score improved greatly, whereas the developmental age changed very little.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These tests are suitable for patients with intractable epilepsy and severe developmental delay. By performing these tests before and after surgery, small cognitive changes occurring soon after the surgery may be detected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1, Ogawahigashi-cho, Kodaira, Tokyo 187 8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Iwao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Hirokata
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ooe
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*