Imaging the Effect of Centrotemporal Spikes and Seizures on Language in Children (FIRST)

This is an interventional treatment trial for Benign Childhood Epilepsy With Centro-Temporal Spikes focused on measuring Benign Childhood Epilepsy With Centrotemporal Spikes, Benign Rolandic Epilepsy Read More

Inclusion Criteria for BECTS participants

Diagnosis: Child has newly diagnosed BECTS according to International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) criteria (including normal EEG background for age, at least 1 partial onset seizure, and unilateral or bilateral central/mid-temporal sharp waves with a positive horizontal dipole).

Age: The child's age is between 5 years, 0 months and 13 years, 11 months at study entry.

Language: The child must be a monolingual native speaker of English.

Handedness : The child must be right-handed.

Females: females of child bearing potential must agree to an acceptable and non-systemic form of birth control (including abstinence).

Intelligence: The child must have clinician-judged normal intelligence.

Academic History: The child must have an academic history of a regular education program (i.e., not in a special education class or program) without repeating grades.

Parent/Guardians:

• The patient's parent/guardian must be able to keep an accurate seizure record.
• Informed consent from the child's parent or legal guardian.
• Parents (guardians) must be able and willing to comply with instructions and study procedures.

Assent: Assent from the child if age 11 years or older.

Demographic characteristics: Children will be between 7 and < 14 years old at the time of enrollment. Children of both sexes and all race/ethnicities will be enrolled.

Exclusion Criteria for BECTS participants

Clinical Contraindications

• Children with diagnosis of Benign Occipital Epilepsy (BOE - normal EEG background, and unilateral or bilateral occipital sharp waves activated by eye closure).
• Children with history of primary generalized seizures (absence, myoclonic, drop).
• Children with mixed seizure disorder (e.g., Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome).
• Children sensory seizures only (i.e., auras).
• Children with diagnoses of pervasive developmental disorders (e.g., autism/autism spectrum disorders).
• Children with progressive neurological disease (e.g., degenerative, progressive neoplasm).
• Children with major medical disease (e.g., IDDM, depression, suicide attempt. cancer, renal failure).
• Children with a history of neonatal seizures.

Pregnancy: Children who are pregnant will not be eligible for enrollment.

Prior Therapy

• Children previously or currently treated with an AED for any reason (other than non chronic benzodiazepine, e.g., ED treatment).
• Children taking any psychoactive agent other than psychostimulants for ADD/ADHD.
• Children taking a psychostimulant for ADD/ADHD and not on a stable dose for at least 2 weeks at time of study enrollment.

MRI

• Standard MRI exclusion criteria, e.g. orthodontic braces, cochlear implant or other metallic implants which obscure or interfere with the MRI.

Special Education: Children with a special education placement based on ability or behavior.

Informed Consent: Inability or unwillingness of child or legal guardian/representative to give written informed consent.

Child not fluent in English.

Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Controls

Language: The child must be a monolingual native speaker of English.

Handedness: The child must be right-handed.

Females: Females of child bearing potential must agree to an acceptable and non-systemic form of birth control (including abstinence).

Intelligence: The child must have clinician-judged normal intelligence.

Academic History: The child must have an academic history of a regular education program (i.e., not in a special education class or program) without repeating grades.

Parents/Guardians:

• Informed consent from the child's parent or legal guardian.
• Parents (guardians) must be able and willing to comply with instructions and study procedures.

Assent: Assent from the child if age 11 years or older.

Demographic characteristics: Children will be between 5 and < 14 years old at the time of enrollment. Children of both sexes will be enrolled and no child will be excluded on the basis of race/ethnicity.

Exclusion Criteria for Healthy Controls

Clinical Contraindications

• Children with a diagnosis of a chronic neurological disorder.
• Children with diagnoses of pervasive developmental disorders (e.g., autism/autism spectrum disorders).
• Children with progressive neurological disease (e.g., degenerative, progressive neoplasm).
• Children with major medical disease (e.g., IDDM, cancer, renal failure).
• Children with a history of neonatal seizures.
• Pregnancy: Children who are pregnant will not be eligible for enrollment.

Prior Therapy

• Children previously or currently treated with an AED for any reason (other than non chronic benzodiazepine, e.g., ED treatment).
• Children taking any psychoactive agent other than psychostimulants for ADD/ADHD.
• Children taking a psychostimulant for ADD/ADHD and not on a stable dose for at least 2 weeks at time of study enrollment.

MRI and MRI/EEG Abnormality

• Standard MRI exclusion criteria, e.g. orthodontic braces, cochlear implant or other metallic implants which obscure or interfere with the MRI.

Special Education: Children with a special education placement based on ability or behavior.

Informed Consent: Inability or unwillingness of child or legal guardian/representative to give written informed consent.

Child not fluent in English.