Childhood Seized: Linguistic Considerations of the Effects of Epilepsy on Cognition in Children with Benign Childhood Epilepsy

By M. Canal Frechilla

To date, little research has been conducted to the effects of epilepsy on cognitive and language issues. This study is a response to this knowledge gap. A careful matched-subject, mixed-factors description, designed to identify cognitive decline during the process and treatment of this illness. The research is focused on description and exploration, of linguistic considerations in Rolandic epilepsy. Rolandic epilepsy, is also known as Benign focal epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECS). The intention is to shed light from a neurolinguistic perspective, on reasons that might underline cognitive and behavioral complications, in children with epilepsy.

This study has been approached corroborating ‘structural connectivity’, which defines language network in the brain. The rational derives from research of neurological data, from prestigious neurological and scientific international journals, on the topic that illustrates our case. Conclusions are based upon careful evaluation on how epilepsy affects cognitive skills, and language issues upon observations drawn on results. Deficits in language patterns have been associated to different brain areas, in patients who suffer from different pathologies. Degenerative illnesses have opened a milestone in the study on reasons leading to cognitive decline, in children affected from “Benign childhood epilepsy”.

Medical history has been well documented to current day. Lack of consistent information internationally recognized on cognitive issues toughen consensus on best medical procedure to follow, in best interest of the child. Our research confronted this shortage of information, in the light of the new literature coming through. Overall, the results indicate that when working with language skills in people with epilepsy or with degenerative diseases, clinicians should account for the presence of anti-epileptic medication or amalgamation of medications as possible cause of cognitive decline.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press UK
• Release date: Sep 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781982284091

Book preview

Childhood Seized

Linguistic Considerations of the Effects of Epilepsy on

Cognition in Children with Benign Childhood Epilepsy

M. Canal Frechilla

Copyright © 2021 M. Canal Frechilla.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-9822-8408-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-8409-1 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 09/22/2021

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CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Semantics of Language

1.2 Embodied Cognition Theories

1.3 Motor language and motor System

1.4 Abstract Language and motor system

1.5 Gestures, emotions, and motor system

1.6 Language Development in Children

1.7 Purpose and Research Questions

Chapter 2 LINGUISTIC CONSIDERATIONS IN DEGENERATIVE DISEASE

2.1 Introduction: The Frontal Lobe

2.2 Frontal Lobe Syndrome

2.3 Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

2.3.1 Pragmatics and Theory of mind (ToM)

2.3.2 Linguistic analysis of narration

2.3.3 Mean Utterance Length (MUL)

2.3.4 General cohesion

2.3.5 Inhibition parameter or ‘switch’

2.4 Parkinson Disease

3.4.1 Dysmetria of thought hypothesis

3.4.2 Linguistic Analysis of narration

2.4.3 Speech rate

2.4.4 Mean Length Utterance (MUL) in Parkinson

2.4.5 Pragmatic comprehension in Parkinson

3.4.6 Verb and noun paradigm

Chapter 3 BENIGN CHILDHOOD EPILEPSY

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Cognitive observation

3.3 Causes and types of decline

3.4 Linguistic considerations in functional connectivity

3.4.1 Language Plasticity

3.4.2 Atypical patterns in language localization

3.4.3 Factors affecting language in epilepsy

3.5 Linguistic considerations in cognitive decline

3.5.1 Memory in epilepsy: Accelerating long-term forgetting

3.5.2 Language and memory: Hippocampus

3.5.3 Memory models: Declarative/Procedural

3.6 Linguistic considerations in behavioral disorders

3.6.1 Language and inhibition: Basal Ganglia

3.6.2 Building the mental model

3.6.3 Language in temporal lobe: van Gogh

3.7 Linguistic consideration in case-study

3.7.1 Linguistic analysis in first year of medication

3.7.1.1 Linguistic analysis of three cartoons.

3.7.1.2 Pragmatic use of humor

3.7.2 Linguistic considerations in second year of medication

Chapter 4 DISCUSSION

4.1 Discussion of Research Questions

4.2 Conclusion

4.3 Appendix

BIBLIOGRAFIA

LINGUISTIC CONSIDERATION OF THE EFFECTS OF EPILEPSY ON

COGNITION IN CHILDREN WITH BENIGN CHILDHOOD EPILEPSY

by

M.Canal Frechilla

A dissertation submitted by a former Associate Lecturer at Faculty of Humanities

and Linguistics Studies in the University of the Balearic Islands, in partial

fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

2021

ABSTRACT

Linguistic Considerations of the Effects of Epilepsy on

Cognition in Children with

Benign Childhood Epilepsy

by

M.Canal Frechilla

To date, little research has been conducted to the effects of epilepsy on cognitive and language issues. This study is in response to this knowledge gap. A careful matched-subject, mixed-factors description, designed to identify cognitive decline during the process and treatment of this illness. The research is focused on description and exploration, of linguistic considerations in Rolandic epilepsy. Rolandic epilepsy, is also known as Benign focal epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECS). The intention is to shed light from a neurolinguistic perspective, on reasons that might underline cognitive and behavioral complications, in children with epilepsy.

This study has been approached corroborating structural connectivity which, defines language network in the brain. The rational of our study derives from research of neurological data, from prestigious neurological and scientific international journals, on the topic that illustrates our case. Conclusions are based upon careful evaluation on how epilepsy affects cognitive skills, and language issues upon observations drawn on results. Deficits in language patterns have been associated to different brain areas, in patients who suffer from different pathologies. Degenerative illnesses have opened a milestone in the study on reasons leading to cognitive decline, in children affected from Benign childhood epilepsy.

Thus, we have carried out a longitudinal description of this illness in a healthy trilingual 12- year-old child. Medical history has been well documented from first episode to current day. Lack of general consistent and solid information internationally recognized, on cognitive issues toughen consensus on best medical procedure to follow, in best interest of the child. Our research confronted this shortage of information, in the light of the new literature coming through.

Overall, the results indicate that when working with language skills in persons with epilepsy or with degenerative diseases, clinicians should account for the presence of anti-epileptic medication or amalgamation of medications as possible cause of cognitive decline.

The fisherman knows that the sea is dangerous and the storm is terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore. Van Gogh

for Edu

The fisherman knows that the sea is dangerous and the storm is terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore. Van Gogh

for Edu

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Several studies have described epileptic seizures as events with loss of consciousness, jerking and memory loss among symptoms.

Epileptic seizures are often dramatic events particularly generalized tonic-clonic seizures with loss of consciousness, fall bilateral rhythmic jerking of nearly all skeletal muscles and marginal or no breathing with cyanosis. It would not be surprising if generalized tonic-clonic seizures led to brain damage and regression with cognitive and behavioral deterioration. (Camfield & Camfield 2019, p. 201)

The citation explains that epileptic insults caused by seizures are dramatic events for epileptic patients. There is usually loss of consciousness and jerking, with low oxygen levels when breathing. These symptoms could lead to brain damage and regression. Benign childhood epilepsy affects children under 12-13 years, and it has been reported to contribute to general cognitive impairments in children even in the absence of structural abnormalities in the brain. According to Adebimpe, Bourel-Ponchel, Wallois (2018,p.739) "Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by abnormal electrical discharges in a group of brain cells".Therefore epilepsy is an abnormal electric activity found in brain cells.

In 2014, The International League Against Epilepsy states that; a person is considered to have epilepsy if they meet any of the following conditions:

1. At least two unprovoked (or reflex) seizures occurring greater than 24 hours apart.

2. One unprovoked (or reflex) seizure and a probability of further seizures similar to the general recurrence risks (at least 60%) after two unprovoked seizures, occurring over the next 10 years.

3. Diagnosis of an epileptic syndrome. Epilepsy is considered, to be resolved for individuals who had an age-dependent epilepsy syndrome but are now past the applicable age or those who have remained seizure-free for the last 10 years, with no seizure medicines for last 5 years.

In the definition, epilepsy is now called a disease rather than a disorder. This was a decision of the Executive Committees of the ILAE and the International Bureau of Epilepsy. Epilepsy is a heterogeneous condition, so the word disease better connotes the seriousness of epilepsy to the public.

In 2015, The Commission on Classification and Terminology and the Commission on Epidemiology of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) have proposed a new definition of status epilepticus (SE). The proposed new definition is:

Status epilepticus is a condition resulting either from the failure of the mechanism responsible for seizure termination or from the initiation of mechanisms which lead to abnormally prolonged seizures (after time point t1). It is a condition, which has long-term consequences (after time point t2) including neuronal death, neuronal injury and alteration of neuronal networks depending on the type and duration of seizures. (ILAE, 2015)

t1 indicates when treatment should be initiated-.

t2 indicates when long-term consequences may appear-

This research draws