Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Published on: September 20, 2024
[Intellectual, psychomotor and speech development of children born to mothers with epilepsy]
Insights
Children born to mothers with epilepsy show some developmental delays, particularly in fine motor and speech skills. Further research is needed to fully understand the long-term impacts of maternal epilepsy on child development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Clinical Neurology
Context:
- Maternal epilepsy is a significant concern during pregnancy.
- Understanding the developmental outcomes for children exposed to antiepileptic drugs in utero is crucial.
- This study investigates the neurodevelopmental trajectory of children born to mothers with epilepsy.
Purpose:
- To assess the intellectual, psychomotor, and speech development of children born to mothers with epilepsy.
- To identify potential developmental differences between age subgroups (6 months-4 years and 4-16 years).
- To correlate electroencephalogram (EEG) findings with developmental assessments.
Summary:
- Fifty children born to mothers with epilepsy were evaluated. While overall intellectual functioning (IQ) was largely within normal limits, some children exhibited lower scores.
- Fine motor and speech development scores on the Bayley-III scales were lower in a subset of children compared to controls.
- Epileptiform activity on EEG was detected in 18% of older children, with 10% showing subclinical activity.
Impact:
- Highlights potential subtle neurodevelopmental risks associated with maternal epilepsy.
- Informs targeted developmental monitoring and early intervention strategies for affected children.
- Contributes to the evidence base for managing epilepsy during pregnancy and its impact on offspring.
Abstract:
Intellectual, psychomotor and speech development of 50 children born to mothers with epilepsy were studied. The sample has been stratified into 2 subgroups: children aged from 6 months to 4 years and children aged from 4 to 16 years. This group included 4 (8%) children with children absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic and unclassified epilepsy; one patient had a diagnosis of epileptic encephalopathy without epileptic seizures. Video-EEG monitoring revealed the epileptiform activity on EEG in 9 (18%) children from subgroup 2, four of them suffered from epilepsy. The subclinical epileptiform activity on EEG was observed in 5 (10%) children. The Wechsler test showed that general IQ scores were low (<95%) in 4 (20%) children of this subgroup. No significant difference was found in the performance on the Bayley-III scales between children from subgroup 1 and children born to healthy mothers (controls) though the scores on the fine motor scale and speech development scale were lower in 3 (10%) and 5 (16%) children of the index group, respectively.
Related Concept Videos
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Epilepsy ll: Types
Seizures ll: Types
Intellectual Disability
Seizures l: Introduction
Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:

