XASIM May p166-172

Vol. 1, No. 4 ■ May 2001 U ntil quite recently, the seizure disorders of childhood were broadly associated with generalized disruptions in brain maturation and, by association, the complete range of behavioral and intellectual deficits common in children with epilepsy. This concept of pediatric epilepsy as a cause of diffuse cognitive problems was supported by several lines of evidence as well as by clinical experience. However, recent refinements in clinical and psychological testing indicate that the epilepsies of childhood are distinct neurologic entities with equally distinct psychological outcomes. As researchers continue to explore the complicated links between seizure activity and psychosocial and neurologic traits, clinicians will be in a better position to make treatment decisions. This article describes the evolving view of pediatric epilepsy as clusters of specific impairments often amenable to specific interventions rather than a sweeping age-related diagnosis associated with a high likelihood of inevitable behavioral and cognitive problems.