Distinguishing children with frontal epilepsy from children with ADHD in terms the cognitive profile.

ADHD is a behavioural diagnosis, while frontal lobe epilepsy is a medical
diagnosis. However, children with frontal lobe epilepsy show cognitive
problems, resulting in learning and behavioural problems, which are also seen
in children with ADHD. Those problems mainly involve executive dysfunction
(working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibition, sustained attention and
working pace). Usually, children with frontal epilepsy and children with ADHD
receive similar advice and treatment, sometimes with medication for behavioural
problems. Some children have both diagnoses. There are many studies to
distinguish epilepsy in general from ADHD. Yet, studies to give insight in the
neuropsychological profile of children with frontal epilepsy are rare, let
alone studies to distinguish children with frontal lobe epilepsy from children
with ADHD in terms of executive functioning. Studies hypothesise that there is
a difference between those groups and that further research is needed. Other
studies, where ADHD behaviour in other neurological disorders have been
compared to ADHD, showed a difference between the two (Mautner, Kluwer, Thakker
& Leark, 2002; Kooistra, Crawford, Gibbard, Ramage & Kaplan 2009).
Because studies also show memory defects (Braakman et al, 2012; ; Jambaque,
Dellatolas, Dulac, Ponsot & Signoret, 1993; Nolan, Redoblado, Lan, Sabaz,
Lawson & Cunningham, 2003; Lendt, Gleissner, Helmstaedter, Sassen, Clusmann &
Elger, 2002; Prevost, Lortie, Nguyen, Lassonde & Carmant, 2006) this will also
be assessed in this study.

Distinguishing frontal lobe epilepsy from ADHD in terms of working memory.

Cross sectional between group design.

The children with epilepsy are referred by neurologists because of behavioural
and/or learning disorders. Therefore, all neuropsychological tests used within
this protocol are administered as part of the regular diagnosis procedure.
There will be no extra burden for these children.
There are children with frontal epilepsy who were referred in the past two
years.
These children will be asked to participate in the study also en will undergo
the same tests as the children who are referred. Some tests have been carried
out earlier and with permission of the parents, this data will be used.
Most of the children with ADHD have already been tested elsewhere in order to
establish the diagnosis, in the special health care institution and the
hospital. However, additional testing will be needed because not all tests of
our protocol will have been used to establish a diagnosis. Neuropsychological
testing does usually not involve medical risk. The risk for these children will
be no greater than what may be experienced in everyday life.