title: Language and social functioning in children and adolescents with epilepsy.
abstract: Individuals with epilepsy have difficulties with social function that are not adequately accounted for by seizure severity or frequency. This study examined the relationship between language ability and social functioning in 193 children with epilepsy over a period of 36months following their first recognized seizure. The findings show that children with persistent seizures have poorer language function, even at the onset of their seizures, than do their healthy siblings, children with no recurrent seizures, and children with recurrent but not persistent seizures. They continue to demonstrate poorer language function 36months later. This poor language function is associated with declining social competence. Intervention aimed at improving social competence should include consideration of potential language deficits that accompany epilepsy and social difficulty.
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, USA. Electronic address: anna.byars@cchmc.org.
authors.forename: Anna W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Byars
authors.affiliation: Children's Health Care of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Ton J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: deGrauw
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, USA.
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Fastenau
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Joan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Austin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D007807:Language Tests; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Children; Language; Seizures; Social function