Assessment of Visual Memory in Idiopathic Pediatric Age Epilepsy

Abstract Background Epilepsy is defined as “at least two unprovoked seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart or a single unprovoked seizure and a probability of further seizures similar to the general recurrence risk (at least 60%) after two unprovoked seizures, occurring over the next 10 years or a diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome”. In epileptic patients, memory is the most affected domain of the cognitive functions. There are many contributing factors were proposed to affect visual memory dysfunction as duration of uncontrolled seizures, age of onset, frequency of seizures, dosage of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and abnormal epileptiform discharges on the electroencephalogram (EEG), number of antiepileptic drugs. Aim of the Work To determine the prevalence and risk factors of visual memory affection in children and adolescent with idiopathic epilepsy for better detection, management and quality of life. Patients and Methods This study was across sectional study for 50 pediatric epileptic patient aged from 8-18years old Ain Shams University hospitals, at pediatric neurology and epilepsy outpatient clinics with study period 6 month, met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Benton visual retention test used to measure visual memory affection in pediatric epilepsy. Results A study on 50 pediatric patients showed that there is significant correlation between Benton & age in pediatric epileptic patients with P value < 0.05. Also, it shows there is significant correlation between Benton and onset with P value < 0.01. It also shows there is a significant correlation between Benton and duration of illness with P value<0.05. It also shows there is a significant correlation between Benton and IQ with P value < 0.01. Conclusion In conclusion, Benton scale is a appropriate assessment scale that indicate memory dysfunction. This study allowed us to detect the incidence of visual memory impairment among our pediatric patients and it also predicts the influencing factors. This is help us in management of our patients as this make us paid more attention for age, early age of onset, for duration of illness and IQ this will encourage early treatment and control of fits and will lead to early referral for cognitive rehabilitation and IQ assessment.