Pathology type does not predict language lateralization in children with medically intractable epilepsy

Abstract

Purpose: We examined potential differences in the effects of pathology type on language lateralization in pediatric epilepsy. Methods: We examined findings from intracarotid sodium amobarbital procedure (IAP/Wada) in a large consecutive sample of children with refractory epilepsy. Subjects were assigned to one of three pathology groups: developmental (n = 28), acquired (n = 26), and tumor (n = 20); groups were compared for language lateralization. Results: Rates of atypical language lateralization did not differ across groups. Greater than half of the subjects with left hemisphere insults and seizure onset before 6 years of age had atypical language lateralization, independent of pathology type. Discussion: Atypical language lateralization may occur in the context of developmental, acquired, and/or tumor pathology. © 2009 International League Against Epilepsy.