[A form of acquired childhood aphasia: Landau-Kleffner syndrome]

The Landau-Kleffner syndrome is a childhood disorder associating a loss of previous acquired speech with seizures and bilateral abnormalities on the EEG. The precise aetiology of this syndrome is unknown. Epilepsy is easily regulated by anticonvulsants. However, the aphasia is a more persistent defect and recovery is incomplete in 2/3 of the cases despite intensive speech therapy. A typical case is described in detail. Of five additional cases the most relevant data are presented.