NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS IN CHILDREN WITH EPILEPSY

Neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disability, autistic-spectrum disorders, speech and language disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, are more prevalent in children with epilepsy compared with their peers. Marked developmental delay and regression of acquired skills are typical for epileptic encephalopathies. On the other hand, neurodevelopmental disorders associated with epileptiform activity on the EEG without any clinical manifestations of epileptic fits, represent a serious problem. The causes of neurodevelopmental disorders in children with epilepsy are discussed, as well as clinical features of some epilepsies, associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.