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Journal of Pediatric Epilepsy 2019; 08(02): 038-043
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1694032
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Clinical Significance of Electroencephalography in Children with Specific Learning Disorders

Erhan Aksoy 
1   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Dr. Sami Ulus Pediatric and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
,
Ülkühan Öztoprak 
1   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Dr. Sami Ulus Pediatric and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
,
Murat Sabancı 
2   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Sami Ulus Pediatric and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
,
Miray Çetinkaya 
2   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Sami Ulus Pediatric and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
,
Çiğdem Genç-Sel 
1   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Dr. Sami Ulus Pediatric and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
,
Hülya Kayılıoğlu 
3   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Research and Training Hospital, Muğla, Turkey
,
Ayşe Aksoy 
1   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Dr. Sami Ulus Pediatric and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
,
Deniz Yüksel 
1   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Dr. Sami Ulus Pediatric and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
Further Information

Publication History

16 January 2019

24 June 2019

Publication Date:
14 August 2019 (online)

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Abstract

A specific learning disorder (SLD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which academic skills, such as reading, writing, and mathematics ability, are below the expected range. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between spike-wave index and SLD in children. We recruited 110 child psychiatry outpatients (38 girls, 72 boys) with SLDs for this study between January 2015 and March 2018. The mean ± standard deviation patient age was 9.17 ± 1.87 years. Electroencephalography (EEG) findings were abnormal in 20.9% of children. We found that children with expressive language delay and who were born prematurely had a significantly higher risk of spike-wave index. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder was present in 55.5% of children with SLD. This comorbidity was significantly higher in children with a history of prenatal smoking exposure or premature birth. The EEG findings were particularly important in cases of SLD in children who were born prematurely and had expressive language delay. The spike-wave index is a potential marker of SLD and can be easily and noninvasively detected by EEG.

Keywords

specific learning disorder - children - electroencephalography
 

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