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Updated: Feb 27, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization
Published on: September 20, 2024
ILAE survey of neuropsychology practice in pediatric epilepsy surgery evaluation
Madison M Berl1, Mary Lou Smith2, Christine Bulteau3
1Children's National Health System, Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology, Washington, DC, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Insights
Neuropsychological testing for pediatric epilepsy surgery candidates shows domain consistency but measure variability globally. Consensus exists among English-speaking clinicians, aiding collaborative research efforts.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuropsychology
- Epilepsy Surgery
Background:
- Epilepsy surgery requires comprehensive pre- and post-operative neuropsychological assessments.
- Standardization of these assessments is crucial for comparing surgical outcomes across international centers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey global practices in neuropsychological assessment for pediatric epilepsy surgery candidates.
- To identify commonly used neuropsychological measures and assess consistency in their application.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was distributed by the International League Against Epilepsy Pediatric Surgical Task Force.
- Seventy-eight clinicians from 19 countries, with an average of 13.5 years of experience, responded.
- Survey covered demographics, general practice, and specific neuropsychological measures used and their frequency.
Main Results:
- High consistency (>90%) was observed in evaluated neuropsychological domains, but variability existed in specific measure selection (0-100%).
- Consistency was lower among non-English-speaking respondents.
- Nineteen specific measures were consistently used by >75% of English-speaking clinicians across domains.
Conclusions:
- A consensus on neuropsychological measures for pediatric epilepsy surgery patients exists, particularly among English-speaking clinicians.
- This consensus provides a foundation for a collaborative data repository to study surgical outcomes.
- Challenges remain in selecting universally applicable measures and including data from very young children (<5 years).
Abstract:
To determine the extent to which specific neuropsychological measures are in common use around the world for the assessment of children who are candidates for epilepsy surgery. As part of the work of the International League Against Epilepsy Pediatric Surgical Task Force, a survey was developed and distributed online. The survey consisted of questions related to demographics, training experience, general practice, and specific measures used and at what frequency. Seventy-eight clinicians with an average of 13.5 years of experience from 19 countries responded to the survey; 69% were English-speaking. Pre- and post-neuropsychological evaluations were conducted with a majority of children undergoing surgical resection for epilepsy. There was high consistency (>90%) among the domains evaluated, while consistency rate among specific measures was more variable (range: 0-100%). Consistency rates were also lower among respondents in non-English-speaking countries. For English-speaking respondents, at least one measure within each domain was used by a majority (>75%) of clinicians; 19 specific measures met this criterion. There is consensus of measures used in neuropsychological studies of pediatric epilepsy patients which provides a basis for determining which measures to include in establishing a collaborative data repository to study surgical outcomes of pediatric epilepsy. Challenges include selecting measures that promote collaboration with centers in non-English-speaking countries and providing data from children under age 5.
