Landau Kleffner
Syndrome (LKS) is a rare form of childhood epilepsy which results
in a severe language disorder, a form of aphasia, (loss of language),
and usually develops between 3 and 7 years. It is twice as common
in males than females. Initially, these individuals have a healthy,
problem-free development with normal speech and vocabulary. These
individuals first lose their ability to comprehend and then their
ability to speak expressive speech. These changes can occur gradually
or suddenly.
Early signs may be referred to as auditory agnosia,
Spoken
language is eventually affected, which may lead to complete loss
of the ability to speak.
Some children develop their own method of communicating, such
as with gestures orsigns.
Associated
Features:
History
of one or more epileptic seizures that usually occur at night
Abnormal electrical brain wave activity on both sides of the
brain.
Hyperactivity.
Aggressiveness.
Depression.
Differential Diagnosis:
Some disorders
display similar or sometimes even the same symptom. The clinician,
therefore, in his diagnostic attempt has to differentiate against
the following disorders which one needs to be ruled out to establish
a precise diagnosis.
Cause:
The cause
of LKS is not known. It has been suggested may have been a dysfunctional
immune system, exposure to a virus, and brain trauma. The disorder
usually occurs in children between the ages of 3 and 7. Typically,
these children develop normally and then, for no apparent reason,
they lose the ability to understand others and to speak.
Treatment:
Treatment
for LKS usually consists of medications and specialized therapy
programmes., A controversial treatment option involves a surgical
technique called multiple subpial transection in which the pathways
of abnormal electrical brain activity are severed.
Counseling
and Psychotherapy [
See Therapy Section ]:
Speech and
language therapy and special education are essential for these
children. Children with little or no language comprehension should
be introduced to a sign language as early as possible. Education
should be in a special class or school for children with severe
speech and language disorders.
Pharmacotherapy
[
See Psychopharmacology Section ] :
Anticonvulsants.
Corticosteroids.
