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Tele-neuropsychological assessment in children with self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: a pilot study
Viola Margheri1, Simona Pellacani2, Edoardo Fino2
1Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literature and Psychology (FORLILPSI), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Insights
Remote neuropsychological assessment is feasible for children with Self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTs). This accessible tool can identify executive functioning and learning deficits in pediatric epilepsy, improving care.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
- Digital Health
Background:
- Telemedicine is increasingly used in healthcare, with remote neuropsychological assessment showing promise for cognitive evaluation.
- Pediatric applications of tele-neuropsychological assessment are understudied, particularly for conditions like Self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTs).
- Children with SeLECTs may exhibit subtle deficits in executive functions and learning skills, necessitating early assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a fully remote neuropsychological assessment protocol for children with SeLECTs.
- To evaluate cognitive and executive functioning in children with SeLECTs using a tele-assessment approach.
- To explore the potential of tele-neuropsychological assessment as a tool for early identification of neurocognitive deficits in pediatric epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- A remote neuropsychological assessment protocol was developed and implemented using online sessions (Google Meet, TeleFE battery).
- Forty-seven children (aged 6-13) with SeLECTs were recruited; 43 completed the assessment.
- Clinician evaluations of engagement and parent-reported questionnaires on academic performance, executive function behaviors, and procedure feasibility were collected.
Main Results:
- The remote protocol demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability, with excellent participant compliance and minimal technical issues.
- Descriptive analyses indicated executive functioning and academic achievement vulnerabilities in children with SeLECTs.
- The tele-assessment effectively captured cognitive and behavioral aspects relevant to the SeLECTs population.
Conclusions:
- Remote neuropsychological assessment is a clinically relevant and viable approach for pediatric epilepsy.
- This scalable and accessible tool can enhance the monitoring and management of cognitive health in children with SeLECTs.
- Tele-neuropsychological assessment offers a promising avenue for improving care and support for children with epilepsy and their families.
Introduction:
Telemedicine has gained increasing prominence in healthcare services, with neuropsychological tele-assessment emerging as a promising tool for evaluating and monitoring cognitive functions remotely, even in clinical conditions with mild vulnerabilities. Despite its growing application in adults, its use in pediatric clinical contexts remains understudied. Among pediatric disorders, Self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTs) may feature subtle neuropsychological deficits, particularly in higher order cognitive processes such as Executive Functions (EF), and in learning skills. Early tele-neuropsychological assessment can help delineate the neuropsychological profile in this population.
Method:
The feasibility of a fully remote neuropsychological assessment protocol in children with SeLECTs was examined. Forty-seven children (aged 6-13) were recruited, of whom 43 underwent the assessment. Two online sessions via Google Meet and web-based platforms (TeleFE battery), to assess children's cognitive and executive functioning were conducted. Clinicians evaluated the children's engagement and parents completed remote questionnaires addressing academic performances, EF-related behaviors, and feasibility of the procedure.
Results:
The protocol demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability, with participants' strong compliance and no major technical issues. Descriptive analyses highlighted the presence of vulnerabilities in executive functioning and school achievement in children with SeLECTs.
Discussion:
These findings support the clinical relevance of remote neuropsychological assessment in pediatric epilepsy, offering a scalable and accessible tool to enhance care.
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