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Is epileptiform activity related to developmental language disorder? Findings from the HelSLI study
Hanna-Reetta Lajunen1, Marja Laasonen2,3, Pekka Lahti-Nuuttila2,4
1Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
Clinical Neurophysiology Practice
|May 15, 2023
Summary
Interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) in children with developmental language disorder (DLD) do not correlate with language skills. Maternal smoking was linked to specific IEDs, but routine EEGs offer limited additional insight for these children.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Clinical Electrophysiology
Background:
- Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) affects language acquisition in children.
- Interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) are abnormal EEG findings not always associated with seizures.
- The relationship between IEDs, language performance, and perinatal factors in DLD is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between IEDs and language performance in children with DLD.
- To explore the link between IEDs and pre-/perinatal factors in children with DLD.
- To determine the clinical utility of routine EEG in children with DLD.
Main Methods:
- Routine electroencephalography (EEG) was performed on 205 children (aged 2.9-7.1 years) with DLD.
- Language performance was assessed, and pre-/perinatal data were collected.
- IEDs, including specific types like rolandic IEDs, and electrical status epilepticus during slow-wave sleep (ESES)/spike-and-wave activation in sleep (SWAS) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- No association was found between IEDs and lower language performance in children with DLD.
- Children with centrotemporoparietal (rolandic) IEDs showed better language skills, but this was explained by age.
- Maternal smoking was the only significant pre-/perinatal factor associated with rolandic IEDs (OR 4.4).
- ESES/SWAS was not detected in any participants.
Conclusions:
- IEDs are not linked to poorer language outcomes in children with DLD.
- Routine EEG findings, including ESES/SWAS, are not common or informative for language performance in this cohort.
- Routine EEGs may not provide additional diagnostic value for language development in children with DLD without other neurological comorbidities.
Keywords:
Developmental language disorder (DLD)EEGInterictal epileptiform discharge (IED)PregnancySmokingSpikeMore Related Videos
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