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Oral language disorders in preschool children with epilepsy: a speech-language screening

Patrícia Danielle Falcão Melo1, Aurea Nogueira de Melo, Eulália Maria Chaves Maia

  • 1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Parnamirim - RN, Brazil. patriciamelo77@gmail.com

Pro-Fono : Revista De Atualizacao Cientifica
|March 27, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children with epilepsy often experience oral language delays, with boys and those having partial seizures being at higher risk. This study highlights the prevalence of these disorders in young epileptic patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Speech-Language Pathology
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Epilepsy is a common neurological condition in childhood.
  • Oral language disorders can significantly impact a child's development and academic success.
  • The co-occurrence of epilepsy and oral language disorders in preschoolers warrants further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency of oral language disorders in preschool-aged children diagnosed with epilepsy.
  • To identify potential risk factors associated with oral language disorders in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving 30 preschool children with epilepsy was conducted.
  • Participants underwent comprehensive oral speech-language evaluations.
  • Inclusion criteria specified explicit epilepsy diagnosis (ILAE 2005), age 3-6 years, and normal development.

Main Results:

  • 60% of epileptic preschoolers (18 out of 30) exhibited oral language disorders.
  • Among those with disorders, 67% had general language impairments and 33% had phonological disorders.
  • Male gender (OR=2.03) and partial seizures (OR=2.41) were identified as significant risk factors.

Conclusions:

  • Preschoolers with epilepsy demonstrate a high prevalence of delayed oral language development.
  • Male gender and partial seizures are significant risk factors for oral language disorders in epileptic preschoolers.
  • Early identification and intervention are crucial for managing language development in this vulnerable group.
Abstract

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