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Landau-Kleffner syndrome beginning with stuttering: case report
Sarenur Tütüncüoğlu1, Gül Serdaroğlu, Bengü Kadioğlu
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
Journal of Child Neurology
|January 28, 2003
Summary
Landau-Kleffner syndrome can manifest as acquired aphasia, even in children with prior normal development. Early consideration of this syndrome is crucial if stuttering emerges in children with normal language skills.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS) is characterized by acquired aphasia in children with previously normal language and motor development.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are critical for managing LKS and its impact on communication.
Observation:
- A 3.5-year-old girl with a history of benign myoclonic epilepsy of infancy presented with prominent stuttering.
- Stuttering emerged three months after discontinuing antiepilepsy drug therapy, following a seizure-free period.
Findings:
- Despite normal prior language development, the patient was diagnosed with Landau-Kleffner syndrome.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed multiple spike and wave discharges, indicating underlying epileptic activity.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering Landau-Kleffner syndrome in the differential diagnosis of acquired stuttering in children.
- A history of epilepsy may facilitate early EEG acquisition, aiding in the diagnosis of LKS.
- Prompt recognition of LKS is essential for appropriate management and potential language recovery.