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Landau-Kleffner Syndrome Synonym(s): Reviewed 07-01-2001 Get Web page suited for printing Email this to a friend or colleague Studies with patients Table of Contents (click to jump to sections) What is Landau-Kleffner Syndrome?Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? Organizations What is Landau-Kleffner Syndrome? Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS), also called acquired epileptiform aphasia, is a rare, childhood neurological disorder characterized by the sudden or gradual development of aphasia (loss of language) and an abnormal electro-encephalogram (EEG). LKS affects the parts of the brain that control speech and comprehension. The disorder usually occurs in children between the ages of 3 and 7. Typically, these children develop normally and then, for no apparent reason, they lose the ability to understand others and to speak. 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, or emotional/behavioral problems. Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? National Aphasia Association
Epilepsy Foundation
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
American Speech Language Hearing Association
(ASHA)
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