Author/Authors :
Nemati, Hamid Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences - Shiraz, Iran , Jalalipour, Maryam Shiraz University of Medical Sciences - Shiraz, Iran , Niliyeh, Shadi Department of Pediatrics - School of Medicine - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences - Shiraz, Iran , Maneshian, Behjat Department of Pediatrics - School of Medicine - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences - Shiraz, Iran
Abstract :
Epilepsy is the most common pediatric
neurologic disease accompanying with psychosocial
delays causing a child’s isolation from the society.
Developmental language delays are among the most
common complaints of children with epilepsy. In the
current study, verbal skills and expressive and
receptive language development have been assessed
in patients with epilepsy and compared with
age-matched normal group.
Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 78
2-5-year-old children with epilepsy and 78 age-matched
normal children referred to the outpatient clinic of
Imam Reza affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical
Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, in 2017-2018. Demographic
information of cases (age, age of onset, type of seizure,
and number of consumed remedies) and controls was
gathered. In order to assess study population’s verbal,
receptive, and expressive language development,
Newsha growth measurement test, a validated Persian
version of verbal language development questionnaire,
was utilized.
Results: Comparison of children with epilepsy with
normal controls showed a significant difference in
spoken, expressive, and receptive language
development between children with epilepsy and
normal peers (P < 0.05). Spoken and receptive
language developments were significantly in
association with earlier age of onset, higher number
of remedies received for seizure control, generalized
type of seizures, and lacking of seizure control
(P < 0.05). Expressive language development showed
no association with type and control of seizures
(P > 0.05) but had significant association with age of
onset of epilepsy and number of remedies (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Assessment of verbal language
development aspects among children with epilepsy
showed a higher rate of delay among these children
as compared with normal age-matched ones.
Moreover, earlier age of onset, generalized type of
seizures, higher number of consumed remedies, and
poor seizure control were accompanied with higher
and more severe speech and language delay.
Keywords :
Iran Epilepsy , Children , Age of Onset , Language Delay
