BACKGROUND Children with epilepsy often show some degree of cognitive impairment. In this study, we investigated their learning skills to clarify the characteristics of the difficulties related to learning in Japanese-speaking children with focal epilepsy. METHODS The study included 13 boys and 17 girls of mean age 9.7 years (standard deviation 2.61; range 6-14 years) with focal epilepsy and a normal magnetic resonance brain scan. None of the patients had any other neurological disorder. RESULTS Twenty-two children had "learning difficulties", i.e., an intellectual disability or low scores on a learning abilities task. Significant differences were found in age (P = 0.030), age at onset of epilepsy (P = 0.033), and electroencephalographic findings, as well as between bilateral vs. unilateral (P = 0.028) and right-localized vs. left-localized or bilateral (P = 0.014) involvement between subjects with and without learning difficulties. Seven (88%) of eight children with low scores on a learning abilities task showed abnormalities in reading speed. DISCUSSION More than half of Japanese-speaking children with focal epilepsy need learning assistance. This finding points to a need for learning support in children with focal epilepsy regardless of language. Measurement of reading speed is useful in children with learning difficulties to identify those who require early intervention.

中文翻译：

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日本小学生局灶性癫痫学习困难

背景 患有癫痫症的儿童经常表现出一定程度的认知障碍。在本研究中，我们调查了他们的学习技能，以阐明日语局灶性癫痫儿童学习困难的特点。方法 该研究包括 13 名男孩和 17 名女孩，平均年龄为 9.7 岁（标准差 2.61；范围 6-14 岁），患有局灶性癫痫且磁共振脑部扫描正常。没有患者有任何其他神经系统疾病。结果 22 名儿童存在“学习困难”，即智力障碍或学习能力任务得分低。年龄 (P = 0.030)、癫痫发作年龄 (P = 0.033) 和脑电图结果，以及双侧与单侧 (P = 0.028) 和右侧定位与偏侧定位之间存在显着差异。有和没有学习困难的受试者之间的左侧局部或双边（P = 0.014）参与。八名学习能力任务得分低的儿童中有七名 (88%) 出现阅读速度异常。讨论 超过一半的日语局灶性癫痫儿童需要学习帮助。这一发现表明，无论语言如何，局灶性癫痫儿童都需要学习支持。测量阅读速度有助于有学习困难的儿童识别需要早期干预的儿童。讨论 超过一半的日语局灶性癫痫儿童需要学习帮助。这一发现表明，无论语言如何，局灶性癫痫儿童都需要学习支持。测量阅读速度有助于有学习困难的儿童识别需要早期干预的儿童。讨论 超过一半的日语局灶性癫痫儿童需要学习帮助。这一发现表明，无论语言如何，局灶性癫痫儿童都需要学习支持。测量阅读速度有助于有学习困难的儿童识别需要早期干预的儿童。