Impairment In Epilepsy Research Articles

Risk factors for cognitive impairment in epilepsy.

Risk factors for cognitive impairment in epilepsy.

Risk factors for cognitive impairment in epilepsy.

Risk factors for cognitive impairment in epilepsy.

Patterns of academic competence in adults with epilepsy: A cluster analytic study

Cluster analysis was used in the attempt to derive a meaningful taxonomy of academic competence in 117 adults with temporal lobe epilepsy. Reading, spelling and arithmetic achievement scores from the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised were subjected to hierarchical complete linkage cluster analysis, and the stability of the obtained solution was examined by the application of two additional clustering procedures. A six cluster solution was obtained, and tests of internal validity showed membership in four of the clusters to be extremely stable (Moderate and Marked Reading/Spelling Underachievement, Above Average Achievement, Reading/Arithmetic Underachievement), while the remaining two clusters showed some exchange of cases (Arithmetic Underachievement, Average Achievement). Modest evidence of external validity was found through the comparison of specific clusters to the Average Achievement group on measures of neuropsychological function, neurological and demographic characteristics. It is concluded that cluster analysis may be helpful in developing taxonomies of psychosocial impairment in epilepsy, and may facilitate an understanding of the determinants of variable quality of life outcomes associated with epilepsy.

An outline of the theoretical constructs of epilepsy and language disorders based on surgical treatment of epilepsies

Epilepsy in neurology is often regarded as a disorder of the central nervous system that is free from language disturbances or deficits because seldom has there been any report in the literature of epileptology that pertains to language disorders in epilepsy. Two reasons may be mentioned to explain the lack of such literature which is no guarantee that epilepsy never produces language deficit of some kind. The first reason has to do with the nature of language disorders which are too closely associated with aphasia in the minds of most neuroscientists. The second reason, which is probably secondary to the first reason, is that most investigators of epilepsy cannot tell any sign of language impairment in epilepsy even though it is there ready to be observed. The purpose of this article is, therefore, threefold: (1) to circumscribe the nature of epilepsy so that certain forms of epilepsy can be singled out for surgical treatment; (2) to describe the procedure by means of which language impairment in epilepsy can be revealed, which is both qualitatively and quantitatively different from any form of language disorders in aphasia; and (3) to draw a distinction between language impairment and aphasia which consists in language disorders of the severe kind.