Social competence of preschool children with epilepsy

The aims of this study were to describe the social competence of 3- to 6-year-old children with epilepsy (n = 26) compared with that of age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n = 26). Social competence was assessed with the Vineland Social Maturity Scale, Conners’ Parent Rating Scales—Revised, and the Child Behavior Checklist. The results indicate that the children with epilepsy, especially with complicated epilepsy, had fewer age-appropriate social skills and more attention and behavior problems than the healthy children, as reported by parents. It is possible that the lack of age-appropriate social skills and the presence of attention problems predispose to behavioral problems. Also, epilepsy-related factors impaired the achievement of social competence. This study shows that the preschool children with complicated, early-onset epilepsy are at increased risk of difficulties in social competence.