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Impacts of epilepsy and its comorbidities on language changes in school children: Case studies

Impactos da epilepsia e suas comorbidades nas alterações de linguagem em escolares: estudos de casos

Tayeni Ellen Matias da Silva; Anna Irenne de Lima Azevedo; Erik Matheus Rodrigues Avelino; Cíntia Alves Salgado Azoni

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0216/20262824925 Revista CEFAC, vol.28, n2, e4925, 2026
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Abstract

The effects of epilepsy may compromise language development and negatively impact learning and academic performance. This study investigated the difficulties experienced by students with epilepsy and comorbidities such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Intellectual Developmental Disorder (IDD). This qualitative and descriptive study analyzed clinical cases of four school-aged children and adolescents, aged 11 to 16 years, including two males and two females enrolled in the 5th to the 8th grades of elementary education. The assessment focused on vocabulary, phonological awareness, phonological working memory, reading, writing, and oral and written narrative discourse. The results indicated that epilepsy, when comorbid with other disorders, significantly impaired academic performance, especially regarding memory, discourse organization, and language processing. The impact of epilepsy varied according to seizure type and the presence of associated comorbidities. Participants with adequate seizure control and without severe comorbidities showed performances closer to expectations. The findings revealed deficits in expressive vocabulary, phonological processing, syntactic awareness, reading, writing, and discourse abilities. Early diagnosis, individualized therapeutic intervention, and adapted educational strategies are essential to minimize language and academic impairments associated with epilepsy. Further investigations regarding the relationship between epilepsy and language development are warranted.

Keywords

Epilepsy; Language; Learning; Comorbidity; Speech-Language Pathology

Resumo

Os efeitos da epilepsia podem comprometer o desenvolvimento linguístico de indivíduos e impactam a aprendizagem e no desempenho acadêmico. O estudo examina dificuldades enfrentadas por estudantes com epilepsia e comorbidades como o Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH) e o Transtorno do Desenvolvimento Intelectual (TDI). A pesquisa qualitativa e descritiva analisa casos clínicos de escolares com idade de 11 a 16 anos, 2 do sexo masculino e 2 do feminino, matriculados do 5º ao 8º ano do Ensino Fundamental I, avaliando competências e habilidades, tais como vocabulário, consciência fonológica, memória de trabalho fonológica, leitura, escrita, discurso narrativo oral e escrito. Os resultados mostram que quadros de epilepsia com comorbidades prejudicam significativamente o desempenho acadêmico, afetando a memória, a organização discursiva e o processamento linguístico. O impacto da epilepsia varia conforme o tipo de crise e a presença de comorbidades. Casos com controle adequado das crises e sem comorbidades graves apresentaram desempenhos mais próximos do esperado. O estudo conclui que há déficits na linguagem, nos aspectos de vocabulário, processamento fonológico, consciência sintática, leitura, escrita e discurso em pacientes com comorbidades. Ressalta-se a importância do diagnóstico precoce, intervenções terapêuticas personalizadas e estratégias educacionais adaptadas para reduzir os prejuízos causados pela epilepsia. Além disso, destaca-se a necessidade de ampliar as investigações sobre a relação entre epilepsia e desenvolvimento linguístico.

Palavras-chave

Epilepsia; Linguagem; Aprendizagem; Comorbidade; Fonoaudiologia

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Submitted date:
07/03/2025

Accepted date:
04/14/2026

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