This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Fastenau, P. S. Articles by Austin, J. K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fastenau, P. S. Articles by Austin, J. K. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Epilepsy Learning Disorders Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Academic Underachievement Among Children With Epilepsy

Proportion Exceeding Psychometric Criteria for Learning Disability and Associated Risk Factors

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, pfastena{at}iupui.edu

Jianzhao Shen

Indiana University School of Medicine

David W. Dunn

Indiana University School of Medicine

Joan K. Austin

Indiana University School of Nursing

This study assessed rates of learning disabilities (LD) by several psychometric definitions in children with epilepsy and identified risk factors. Participants (N = 173, ages 8—15 years) completed IQ screening, academic achievement testing, and structured interviews. Children with significant head injury, chronic physical conditions, or mental retardation were excluded. Using an IQ—achievement discrepancy definition, 48% exceeded the cutoff for LD in at least one academic area; using low-achievement definitions, 41% to 62% exceeded cutoffs in at least one academic area. Younger children with generalized nonabsence seizures were at increased risk for math LD using the IQ—achievement discrepancy definition; age of seizure onset and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were risk factors for reading and math LD using low-achievement definitions. Writing was the most common domain affected, but neither ADHD nor seizure variables reliably identified children at risk for writing LD. Although children with earlier seizure onset, generalized nonabsence seizures, and comorbid ADHD appear to be at increased risk for some types of LD by some definitions, these findings largely suggest that all children with epilepsy should be considered vulnerable to LD. A diagnosis of epilepsy (even with controlled seizures and less severe seizure types) should provide sufficient cause to screen school-age children for LD and comorbid ADHD.

Key Words: underachievement • epilepsy • IQ-acheivement discrepancies • writing • seizures assessment identification • attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol. 41, No. 3, 195-207 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0022219408317548


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. S. Fastenau, C. S. Johnson, S. M. Perkins, A. W. Byars, T. J. deGrauw, J. K. Austin, and D. W. Dunn Neuropsychological status at seizure onset in children: Risk factors for early cognitive deficits Neurology, August 18, 2009; 73(7): 526 - 534. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]