Some critical notes about "the epilepsy-aphasia syndrome" in children

The clinical entity epilepsy-aphasia in children begins from an analytical study of cases published in the literature and from the study of eight cases personally observed. This condition is not an univocal syndrome but it must be differentiated into at least three different conditions even if, very often, they are superimposed: 1) a first condition in which the aphasia is critical and transient; 2) a second condition where it acts rather as a series congenital dysphasia, and 3) a third condition in which it acts as an acquired aphasia, in the strict sense, even though very atypical. The relations between aphasia and epilepsy are disussed especially for what concerns the dynamic of the diffusive forms of epilepsy in the child even in their psychiatric aspects. Both the pharmacological and reeducative problems of therapy are discussed.