Hallo .. Left temporal lobe surgery can affect memory in 3 ways if performed past the age of 25 according to research ..
1) make memory worse
2) wipe memory out completely
3) leave memory as it is
This all depends largely on something the brain does called plasticity.. in an infant, young child or young adult the brain has the ability of plasticity .. to move functions from one area to another .. so the left temporal lobe can be removed and the right temporary lobe can learn to take over ., up to age 25 the brain is still capable of plasticity.. with the ability lessening with age of patient increasing ., research shows after 25 there be far less chance for improvement ., and patient may even become worse .. decrease of plasticity being the main reason why .. neurosurgeons perform this surgery on patients as young as possible to ensure the best results.. which are mainly to control, reduce or eliminate seizures .. which may again vary from one patient to another .. hope this may be of help to anyone who may be contemplating this surgery for themselves or their child .. William and Jen💜💙🕊

@A MyEpilepsyTeam Member
Thank you for sharing the information. Hopefully between the 3 of us (mom, dad, me) we ask every question possible

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A MyEpile...

Yes, short term memory is very much affected by L temporal lobe surgery. I have had 2 surgeries (in 2009 & 2010) and the 2nd one was the hardest in recovery. I had difficulty in using both of my hands together for things that I already knew how to do: e.g. playing the piano and reading my Bible. Over time I did learn to read again but when I'm tired.. It is more of a challenge. I still have challenges with finding words to say. I started having more seizures over time with negative side effects to meds. In 10/2024 I had a Vagus Nerve Stimulator put in. This has also been a challenge!! Especially when the settings on it weren't correct. Epilepsy can be very hard.. but the only way we can make it is by God's grace and love. The only way that I made it by Knowing Jesus as my Savior and Shepherd who carried me through every step of the way. I hope this is a blessing for you!

I HAD A TEMPORAL LOBECTOMY IN 1995 AND IT WAS A DISASTER. Never mind what the doctors did and did not do; I was seizure free for 6 months but then it came back worse than before. You need to consider which hemisphere they are going to be working on. If they are going in to the right then maybe okay, but if they say they want to go into the left you need to say no. If they go into the left hemisphere there is a good chance your ability to TALK will be damaged. And consider this: When I was on the operating table, they were taking me into the operating room, suddenly they bought out about 6 disclaimer forms they said I had to sign first. Those documents said that no matter what happened to me in there, they were not responsible. If I died, if I was damaged, that wasn't their fault. They didn't even have to do the operation: If they suddenly decided they didn't want to do it then I still had to pay. I started to argue, but they just shook their heads: "Sign or leave." So I signed, and I paid. But I am worse now than I was before that operation. So think about it, man... Regards, Jake

Hi Sean2, yes, I had a Right Temporal Lobectomy, in 1994. It helped me heaps and I was even able to eventually get my drivers licence 4 years later and was able to drive for about 23 years. However, after having a "breakthrough seizure" about 3 years ago when I was driving, I stopped driving! Car was a "write-off!"
I still had to stay on medication, but only about 1/5th the amount, so it was a huge improvement for me.