Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS) is a rare, childhood neurological disorder characterized by the sudden or gradual development of aphasia (the inability to understand or express language).
The disorder usually occurs in children between the ages of 5 and 7 years.
LKS affects the parts of the brain that control comprehension and speech. Typically, children with LKS develop normally but then lose their language skills for no apparent reason. While many of the affected individuals have seizures, some do not.
The disorder is difficult to diagnose and may be misdiagnosed as:
- Autism
- Pervasive developmental disorder
- Hearing impairment
- Learning disability
- Auditory/verbal processing disorder
- Attention deficit disorder
- Mental retardation
- Childhood schizophrenia
- Emotional/behavioral problems
However, an abnormal electro-encephalogram (EEG) is produced when the child is tested, which confirms the diagnosis of LKS.
Some affected children may have a permanent severe language disorder, while others may regain much of their language abilities (although it may take months or years). In some cases, remission and relapse may occur. The prognosis is improved when the onset of the disorder is after age 6 and when speech therapy is started early. Seizures generally disappear by adulthood.
Treatment for LKS usually consists of medications, such as anticonvulsants and corticosteroids, and speech therapy, which should be started early. A controversial treatment option involves a surgical technique called multiple subpial transection in which the pathways of abnormal electrical brain activity are severed.