Abstract

WINCKLER, Diego Carrão et al. Value of the electroencephalogram in the assessment of suspected neuropsychomotor development delay in children with epilepsy. Rev. bras. crescimento desenvolv. hum. [online]. 2010, vol.20, n.2, pp. 263-269. ISSN 0104-1282.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the performance of electroencephalogram (EEG) in the prediction of suspected neuropsychomotor development delay in children under five years old with positive selection for epilepsy. METHOD: A sample of 1687 (73.8%) children of a cohort of live births in 2003 in Passo Fundo / RS has been screened in houses to detect seizures. The identified cases were referred to Neurological Interview for Epilepsy, evaluation of psychomotor development with the Denver II test and EEG examination. It was calculated the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of EEG, taking as gold standard the clinical evaluation. RESULTS: Of the 541 (32%) children with positive screening, 59 had seizures and 37 were evaluated by both methods (Denver II test and EEG). From this group 69% had altered EEG and 84,8% suspected development delay, with significant association (p <0.03) between the examinations. The sensitivity of the EEG was 69% and specificity of 75%, with PPV of 91%. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the EEG is associated with early diagnosis of changes in neuropsychomotor development, increasing the detection of suspected cases.

Keywords : validity of tests; electroencephalography; child development.

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