Changes in central auditory processing following temporal lobectomies in children.

Unilateral temporal lobe ablations have become a common treatment procedure for intractable epilepsy. Five children, ranging in age from 11 to 16 years, received a battery of tests to evaluate possible postoperative changes in central auditory processing functions. Children were tested before surgery and at 1 year following surgery. Tests included the SCAN test for central auditory processing, the duration pattern and dichotic digits tests, and the P300 event-related potential. With each test, some children exhibited postoperative improvement, while others exhibited either no changes or poorer postoperative performances. These results indicate that temporal lobectomies, while controlling seizures, may not always result in improved central auditory processing.