Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
EEG Mu Rhythm in Typical and Atypical Development
Published on: April 9, 2014
EEG abnormalities in children with global developmental delay: A retrospective study
Raidah Albaradie1, Alaa K Alshammari1, Fatima A Alsubaie1
1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Neuroscience Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Electroencephalograms (EEGs) are crucial for diagnosing global developmental delay (GDD) in children. Abnormal EEG findings were prevalent in 79% of pediatric patients, aiding in seizure classification and prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neurophysiology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Global developmental delay (GDD) is a common pediatric condition with diverse causes.
- Electroencephalograms (EEGs) are vital for assessing suspected seizures in GDD, guiding treatment and prognosis.
- This study investigated EEG findings in pediatric GDD patients at a Saudi Arabian hospital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of EEG findings in pediatric patients with GDD.
- To evaluate the utility of abnormal EEG assessments in children diagnosed with GDD.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted.
- Data from 110 pediatric patients with GDD were analyzed.
- EEG data were collected from February 2016 to April 2018.
Main Results:
- 79% of pediatric GDD patients exhibited abnormal EEG findings.
- Abnormal EEGs were significantly associated with older age groups (P=0.001).
- EEGs played a crucial role in clinical assessment for 61% of patients (P=0.001).
Conclusions:
- EEGs are essential for classifying seizures in children with GDD.
- Brain EEGs help identify brain anomalies linked to GDD etiologies.
- Utilizing EEGs can improve treatment outcomes for children with GDD.
Background:
Global developmental delay (GDD) is a common pediatric condition with multiple etiologies. An electroencephalogram (EEG) is commonly used, when there is a clinical suspicion of seizures in GDD, which provide treatment options and a prognosis. Aims: To study the prevalence of EEGs findings in pediatric patients presenting with GDD and to examine the use of abnormal EEGs assessment in children with GDD. Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study. Settings: Pediatric neurology clinic at king Fahad specialist hospital in Dammam (KFSHD), Saudi Arabia.
Methods And Materials:
The data consist of brain EEGs of 110 patients who were referred by the pediatric neurology department from February 2016 to April 2018. The data entered and analyzed by using Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS).
Results:
The sample is a total of 110 pediatric patients, 59 males and 51 females, who were diagnosed with developmental delay. The mean age of children with abnormal EEG findings was 22.5 months ± 60.5, with a range of three months to 12 years. The oldest age group was five to 12 years, with a P value of 0.001. Seventy-nine percent of the participants had abnormal EEGs; 20.90% had normal EEGs. In 53 patients (61%), the EEG plays an important role in the clinical assessment that was confirmed by further investigation; the P value for this finding was 0.001.
Conclusion:
An EEG played important role to classify seizures in children with GDD. Brain EEGs can demonstrate the association of brain anomalies with the etiologies of GDD and increase the rate of positive outcomes for children with GDD.
