Neuropsychology of Childhood Epilepsy (Advances in Behavioral Biology Book 50)

This book is devoted to the neuropsychological description of childhood epilepsy, a neurolo- cal condition that constitutes one of the most prevalent forms of chronic and disabling childhood illnesses. Indeed, one child out of 20 experiences one or more seizures before the age of 5, and one in a hundred develops epilepsy as a chronic disorder. Approximately half of these children with epilepsy display academic difficulties and/or behavioral disorders. Moreoever, it is now believed that a sizable proportion of children with learning disability suffer from undiagnosed epilepsy. While a great number of textbooks have been devoted to various medical aspects of chi- hood epilepsy (diagnosis, genetics, etiology, drug and surgical treatment, etc.), there have been no comprehensive accounts of the cognitive consequences of this condition. Advance of medical knowledge has shown that childhood epilepsy should not be considered as a single disorder but encompasses a whole range of different conditions that exhibit specific clinical EEG and outcome characteristics. It is not becoming apparent that these various clinical entities have different cognitive expression that yet need to be specified. The purpose of this book is to provide a complete up-to-date analysis of this multi-faceted pathology. Mechanisms, Classification and Management of Seizures and Epilepsies....Pages 1-11 Conventional and Functional Brain Imaging in Childhood Epilepsy....Pages 13-26 Long Term Effects of Status Epilepticus in the Developing Brain....Pages 27-34 Effects of Focal Lesions, Epilepsy, and Antiepileptic Drugs on Memory Functions....Pages 35-44 Ontogenesis of Gabaergic and Glutamatergic Synaptic Transmission....Pages 45-54 Ontogenesis of Neuronal Networks....Pages 55-60 Development of Sensory Systems in Animals....Pages 61-73 Cerebral Maturation and Functional Imaging....Pages 75-84 Early Signs of Lateralization in Focal Epilepsy....Pages 85-96 Neuropsychology of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in Children....Pages 97-102 Neuropsychology of Frontal Lobe Epilepsy in Children....Pages 103-111 Neuropsychology of Parieto-occipital Epilepsy....Pages 113-120 Neuropsychological Outcome Following Prolonged Febrile Seizures Associated with Hippocampal Sclerosis and Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in Children....Pages 121-130 Neuropsychological Aspects of Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy in Infancy....Pages 131-140 Neuropsychological Studies in Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy....Pages 141-150 Paroxysmal and Non-paroxysmal Cognitive-behavioral Epileptic Dysfunction in Children....Pages 151-158 Transitory Cognitive Disorders and Learning Impairment....Pages 159-169 Acute Cognitive and Behavioral Disorders in Focal Epilepsies....Pages 171-174 Neuropsychological Outcome in Children with West Syndrome....Pages 175-183 Cognitive Deterioration in Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Doose Epilepsy....Pages 185-190 Aphasia and Auditory Agnosia in Children with Landau-kleffner Syndrome....Pages 191-198 Cognitive Profiles of CSWS Syndrome....Pages 199-206 Presurgical Neuropsychological Assessment....Pages 207-214 Neuropsychological Outcome of Temporal and Extratemporal Lobe Resections in Children....Pages 215-227 Cognitive, Sensory and Motor Adjustment to Hemispherectomy....Pages 229-244 Neuropsychological and Psycho-social Consequences of Corpus Callosotomy....Pages 245-256 Cognitive Side-effects of Antiepileptic Drugs....Pages 257-267 Epilepsy, Cognitive Abilities and Education....Pages 269-274 Quality of Life in Epileptic Children....Pages 275-285

while A Great Number Of Textbooks Have Been Devoted To Various Medical Aspects Of Childhood Epilepsy, None Have Been As Comprehensive And Forthright As Neuropsychology Of Childhood Epilepsy. Devoted To The Neuropsychological Description Of Childhood Epilepsy, The Editors Have Uncovered This Neurological Condition As Never Before. Divided Into Three Sections, Section One May Be Highly Regarded As A Necessary Introduction To The Neuropsychological Basis Of Childhood Epilepsy, Electro-clinical Patterns Of Various Types Of Epilepsy And Brain Maturation While Section Two Delves Into The Characterization Of The Neuropsychological Profile That Accompanies Focal Epilepsies Leading To The Behavioral And Cognitive Impairments Linked To The Transient Events That Often Go Unnoticed. Part Three Covers The Medical, Surgical And Socio-educational Management Of Childhood Epilepsy. Bsenteeism, Learning Difficulties, And Cognitive Dysfunctions May Have An Impact On A Child's Self-esteem And Upon His Or Her Quality Of Life. The Final Part Of The Volume Therefore Presents An Accurate Account Of The Vast Psychological Consequences Of This Disease. This Volume Is A Must Read For Experimental And Cognitive Neuropsychologists, Medical Specialists Involved In The Care Of Children With Epilepsy And Professionals And Caretakers Dealing With The Different Aspects Of Childhood Epilepsy Alike.

Clinical manifestations linked to chronic recurrence of paroxysmal discharges within neuronal networks of the brain define epilepsy.