A recent study in the publication Epilepsia shows that preschool children, as well as older youths, who have epilepsy may be at risk for cognitive impairment. According to researchers, epilepsy involves frequent seizures and typically develops during childhood.

In order to conduct the study, researchers reviewed medical data and psychological evaluations of 64 epileptic preschool children. They then determined the students' cognitive functions by analyzing the psychological evaluations along with observations from the childrens' daycare and parental reports.

Using this information, researchers found that about half of the preschoolers had normal cognitive functions, or IQs over 70. However, 22 percent of these children had mild intellectual impairment, or IQs between 50 and 69. An additional 28 percent had moderate to severe cognitive disabilities, which is classified as having IQs of less than 49.

The study further indicates that early onset of epilepsy is a high risk factor for cognitive impairment.

Parents who are worried that their epileptic child is struggling intellectually may want to encourage him or her to take an IQ test. This tool can show adults where their students are academically in relation to their peers.