What childhood disorder is characterized by acquired aphasia and multifocal epileptiform abnormalities?

Landau-Kleffner syndrome is a rare childhood disorder that is primarily identified by the loss of acquired language skills, known as acquired aphasia, in children who have previously developed normally. This condition often presents alongside multifocal epileptiform abnormalities on EEG, which can manifest as seizures. The combination of these symptoms distinguishes it from other childhood epilepsy syndromes.

In Landau-Kleffner syndrome, children typically exhibit regression in language capabilities and may also demonstrate behavioral changes, which can be attributed to difficulties in communication. The presence of multifocal epileptiform activity suggests diverse cortical disruption, correlating with the language centers of the brain. This is a key defining characteristic of the syndrome.

Other conditions, while they may involve some form of seizures or epileptic events, do not typically feature the same combination of acquired aphasia and distinctive EEG findings associated with Landau-Kleffner syndrome. For instance, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy primarily involves myoclonic jerks and generalized tonic-clonic seizures but not acquired language deficits. In contrast, West syndrome is characterized more by infantile spasms and developmental delay, while Lennox-Gastaut syndrome typically presents with multiple seizure types alongside intellectual disability more than the specific language regression seen in Landau-K