Affiliations: Child Neurology Unit and Epilepsy Service, Meyer
Children Hospital, Rambam Medical Center, Rappaport School of Medicine, Haifa,
Israel | Department of Occupational Therapy, Rambam Medical
Center, Haifa, Israel | Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social
Welfare and Health Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
Note: [] Correspondence: Prof. Eli Shahar, Child Neurology Unit and
Epilepsy Service, Meyer Children Hospital, Rambam Medical Center, Rappaport
School of Medicine, Haifa, Israel. Tel.: +972 4 8543059; Fax: +972 4 8543405;
E-mail: e_shahar@rambam.health. gov.il.
Abstract: Sensory processing abilities involve the registration and modulation
of sensory information and the internal organization of sensory input. These
abilities are necessary for executing successful responses to the environmental
demands and thus for meaningful engagement in daily activities. Sensory
processing disabilities are defined as inability to process sensory stimuli in
a graded manner and to execute behaviors that are suitable to the degree,
nature or intensity of the sensory stimuli. As such, sensory processing
disabilities may affect function, behavior and quality of life in a negative
manner. At present, the sensory profile of children with generalized epilepsy
has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of the study was to assess possible
sensory processing disabilities within all sensory modalities in children with
generalized epilepsy. Forty-eight children at the age of 6–10.9 yr
participated including 22 patients with generalized epilepsy compared with 26
age and gender matched controls. A standardized Short Sensory Profile
questionnaire including 38 items was given to caregivers to report, measured
tactile and taste/ smell sensitivities, movement sensitivity;
under-responsive/seeks sensation, auditory filtering, low energy/weak sensation
and visual/auditory sensitivity. We have found that children with generalized
epilepsy had significantly higher sensory processing disabilities in all
sensory modalities compared with controls and even showed extreme patterns of
under-responsive/sensation seeking. These results are preliminary given a
rather small group of patients in each tests group and should be verified in
large groups. The present study further delineates the growing bulk of data
recognizing generalized epilepsy among children as a multi-faceted neurological
disorder with diverse functional disabilities also including sensory processing
dysfunction.
