A case of acquired aphasia in a child

A 4-year-old child was referred to us from neurology with a possible diagnosis of autism. This form of acquired aphasia is unusual in that our patient did not ever present any clinical seizure in spite of bilateral temporal injury. One of the etiological possibilities that has been retained in those cases has to do with the aphasia being related to the convulsive disorder. Our case suggests that, at least for some of those children suffering from this unusual form of acquired aphasia, one has to look for some other etiological possibilities. This last point will be discussed as well as the value of sleep EEG as a diagnostic procedure.