APHASIA AND EPILEPSY IN CHILDHOOD

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Abstract
The syndrome of progressive aphasia and epilepsy in childhood was delineated. Four cases were presented, 3 of which showed the typical gradual onset, fluctuating course, EEG changes with bilateral foci of spike and spike-wave activity and, finally, normalization after some years of the EEG. The aphasia also tended to subside, but often with considerable delay in relation to the other features. Neuropsychological assessment showed varying residual defects mainly of language functions. The etiology was unknown. No pathoanatomical data on this disorder was hitherto published. In one of the present cases a cortical biopsy was performed on suspicion of a left temporal tumor. The biopsy showed changes indicative of a slow virus infection. The newly established language function in children may be particularly vulnerable to a subchronic viral encephalitis affecting both hemispheres.