Language disorders and epilepsy

Language disorders in children may be associated with epileptiform abnormalities on EEG. A controversy exists as to whether the epileptic discharges themselves produce the cognitive dysfunction or if they are an epiphenomenon of the underlying brain abnormality. Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS), electrical status epilepticus in sleep, developmental dysphasias and possibly autism are the language disorders in which there is the strongest association between epileptiform abnormalities and cognitive dysfunction. Although the pathological substrate of these disorders remains unknown, there are indications that the electrophysiologic abnormality may contribute to the cognitive deficits. Treatment of these disorders is similarly controversial, but there is some literature which suggests that medical therapy which either conventional antiepileptic medications or steroids may be beneficial.