Evaluating the Performance of the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination for Children (MMSEc) to Screen for Intellectual Disability in Children With and Without Epilepsy.

The Modified Mini-Mental State Examination for Children (MMSEc) is a screening tool for identifying intellectual disabilities in children. This study compares MMSEc scores with Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) scores in 6-14-year-old children with epilepsy (n = 56) and controls with no neurologic disorders (n = 56). A positive correlation was observed between FSIQ and MMSEc scores (Spearman r = 0.873; P < .001). The MMSEc demonstrated a sensitivity of 77.08%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, negative predictive value of 42.11%, and an overall accuracy of 80.35% in identifying children with an FSIQ lower than 70. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.993, with the optimal MMSEc threshold score being 22. MMSEc scores were low (<2 SD) for age-defined norms in 66.1% of children with epilepsy. The MMSEc could potentially be a quick and useful tool to screen for intellectual disability in children.