Computed tomography and electroencephalography in evaluation of children with motor and language disorders

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY IN EVALUATION OF CHILDREN WITH MOTOR AND LANGUAGE DISORDERS (ABSTRACT)^*. THESIS. MARÍLIA, 1999.

EDWARD ROBERTO TONHOLO SILVA^**

In order to study the utility of computed tomography (CT) scan of the head and electroencephalogram (EEG) in the evaluation of children with neuropsychomotor developmental delay as well as to evaluate possible correlations between these two testing modalities, we reviewed the head CT and EEG findings in 111 children with motor and language disorders. The children were of both sexes and were divided into three groups by age: 0-12 months, 13-48 months and greater than 48 months.

Motor and language skills of these children were evaluated with respect to performance scales derived from specialized literature. CT scans were first categorized as either normal or abnormal and abnormal scans were further divided into: 1) those showing peripheral (cortical) atrophy; 2) those showing central or periventricular atrophy; 3) those with malformations; and 4) those showing disorders of cerebral blood vessels. EEG findings were first categorized as either normal or abnormal and abnormal studies were categorized as showing: 1) paroxysmal patterns; or 2) rhythm abnormalities.

Sixty per cent of the children had normal head CT scans. This finding was independent of age and sex. Peripheral (cortical) abnormality was the most common morphological finding, and was present in about 17% of the children of both sexes and was more prevalent in the younger age groups (under 48 months). Vascular abnormality predominated in the older age group (greater than 48 months).

Overall, about 50% of the children had abnormal EEG exams independent of their sex; however, normal exams predominated in the first year of life. Paroxysmal patterns occurred in all ages but prevailed in females during the first year of life.

With respect to behavior, 77% of children had global delay, most often in females in the first year of life. Isolated motor delay predominated in both sexes in the first year of life. Language delay predominated in male children greater than 48 months, a statistically significant finding.

Results of CT-scan and EEG were normal in 32% of children, mainly in boys and in children older than 48 months. Abnormal CT and EEG exams predominated in children older than 48 months independent of sex.

CT scan of the head was shown to have a limited diagnostic value in children with developmental disturbance. Similarly, EEG showed functional alterations in these children but without value of localizing the developmental abnormality. CT and EEG abnormalities were more prevalent in girls while normal exams were more common in boys confirming that, in terms of plasticity, girls have less potential than boys.

KEY-WORDS: computed tomography scan, electroencephalography, motor disorder, language disorder, children.

**Address: Rua Júlio Mesquita 295, 17515-230 Marília SP, Brasil. E-mail: [e-mail]

*

Tomografia e eletrencefalografia no diagnóstico de distúrbios motor e de linguagem em crianças (Resumo). Tese de Mestrado, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Marília (Área: Morfologia). Orientador: Raymundo Manno Vieira.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  03 Apr 2000
• Date of issue
  Mar 2000