[Acquired aphasia in epileptic children--four cases with electrical infraclinic status epilepticus during sleep...

Four cases of acquired aphasia in epileptic children, associated with sub-continuous bitemporal paroxysmal activities (PA) during sleep, are described. Clinical improvement always followed the decrease or the unilateralization of PA. Persistence or aggravation of aphasia was observed when PA again became bitemporal and sub-continuous. Electroencephalographic characteristics of PA during sleep stages are described. Relationships of these cases with the 'sub-clinical electrical status epilepticus induced by sleep' and the physiopathology of aphasia are discussed.