Verbal memory and literacy outcomes one year after pediatric temporal lobectomy: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract Objective In children with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), temporal lobectomy (TL) is a treatment of choice for those children with seizure that are difficult to control with medication. Semantic memory is dependent on functional integrity of the temporal lobes and is thought to be critical f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epilepsy & behavior 2015-03, Vol.44, p.225-233
Main Authors: Lah, Suncica, Smith, Mary Lou
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Anterior Temporal Lobectomy - adverse effects
Child
Child epilepsy surgery
Cohort Studies
Dyslexia - etiology
Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - surgery
Episodic memory
Female
Humans
Male
Memory
Memory Disorders - etiology
Neurology
Neuropsychological Tests
Reading
Retrospective Studies
Semantic memory
Spelling
Temporal lobe epilepsy
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Abstract Objective In children with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), temporal lobectomy (TL) is a treatment of choice for those children with seizure that are difficult to control with medication. Semantic memory is dependent on functional integrity of the temporal lobes and is thought to be critical for development of literacy skills. However, little is known about semantic memory and literacy outcomes post-TL in children. Method In this retrospective cohort study, 40 children with TLE were administered tests of memory and literacy pre-TL and 1 year post-TL in one hospital between 1996 and 2011. Results One year post-TL, 60% of the children became seizure-free. A significant decline was found in one aspect of semantic memory (naming) in children who underwent left TL. In addition, a significant drop was also evident in one aspect of literacy (reading accuracy), irrespective of the side of surgery. These declines were related neither to each other nor to epilepsy variables including seizure outcome. Conclusions This is the largest pediatric outcome study of memory and literacy skills to date and shows that TL is associated with a risk of a mild drop in specific aspects of semantic memory (naming, following left TL) and reading accuracy, while other areas of memory and literacy remain unchanged.
ISSN:1525-5050
1525-5069
DOI:10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.12.040