Academic underachievement among children with epilepsy: proportion exceeding psychometric criteria for learning disability and associated risk factors.

Full Abstract

This study assessed rates of learning disabilities (LD) by several psychometric definitions in children with epilepsy and identified risk factors. Participants (N = 173, ages 8-15 years) completed IQ screening, academic achievement testing, and structured interviews. Children with significant head injury, chronic physical conditions, or mental retardation were excluded. Using an IQ-achievement discrepancy definition, 48% exceeded the cutoff for LD in at least one academic area; using low-achievement definitions, 41% to 62% exceeded cutoffs in at least one academic area. Younger children with generalized nonabsence seizures were at increased risk for math LD using the IQ-achievement discrepancy definition; age of seizure onset and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were risk factors for reading and math LD using low-achievement definitions. Writing was the most common domain affected, but neither ADHD nor seizure variables reliably identified children at risk for writing LD. Although children with earlier seizure onset, generalized nonabsence seizures, and comorbid ADHD appear to be at increased risk for some types of LD by some definitions, these findings largely suggest that all children with epilepsy should be considered vulnerable to LD. A diagnosis of epilepsy (even with controlled seizures and less severe seizure types) should provide sufficient cause to screen school-age children for LD and comorbid ADHD.

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Author information

Author/s: Fastenau, Philip S (PS); Jianzhao Shen, (); Dunn, David W (DW); Austin, Joan K (JK);

Affiliation: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-3275, USA. pfastena@iupui.edu

Grants: R01 NR04536 (Agency:United States NINR)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Journal of learning disabilities (J Learn Disabil), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2008 May-Jun; vol 41 (issue 3) : pp 195-207

Dates: Created 2008/04/24; Completed 2008/06/24;

PMID: 18434287, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; epidemiology
Child
Electroencephalography
Epilepsy - diagnosis; epidemiology
Female

Humans
Learning Disorders - diagnosis; epidemiology
Male
Psychometrics
Risk Factors
Underachievement

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