Epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs and educational problems

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder that significantly affects learning and behavior. Children with epilepsy are particularly vulnerable to educational problems and resultant academic underachievement. Co-morbidities like cognitive and behavioral problems contribute significantly for the problems at school. Both epilepsy and neuropsychological deficits may occur as different clinical manifestations of a common etiological process. Ongoing seizures themselves adversely affect the developing brain. Furthermore, psychosocial issues also contribute significantly to the problems at school. The effect of antiepileptic drugs is double edged in this setting. They may reduce the seizure burden and thus improve the cognitive function. However, these drugs also significantly affect the learning process. The treating pediatrician should be equipped to comprehensively address all these factors for an optimal outcome. Recent onset of educational problems in a child with epilepsy deserves immediate and aggressive evaluation and management.