Landau-Kleffner Syndrome
(LKS or Infantile Acquired Aphasia)
What is Landau-Kleffner syndrome?
Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS) is a childhood disorder. A major feature of
LKS is the gradual or sudden loss of the ability to understand and use spoken
language. All children with LKS have abnormal electrical brain waves that can be
documented by an electroencephalogram (EEG), a recording of the electric
activity of the brain. Approximately 80 percent of the children with LKS have
one or more epileptic seizures that usually occur at night. Behavioral disorders
such as hyperactivity, aggressiveness and depression can also accompany this
disorder. LKS may also be called infantile acquired aphasia, acquired epileptic
aphasia or aphasia with convulsive disorder. This syndrome was first described
in 1957 by Dr. William M. Landau and Dr. Frank R. Kleffner, who identified six
children with the disorder.
What are the signs of Landau-Kleffner syndrome?
LKS occurs most frequently in normally developing children who are between 3
and 7 years of age. For no apparent reason, these children begin having trouble
understanding what is said to them. Doctors often refer to this problem as
auditory agnosiaor "word deafness." The auditory agnosia may occur slowly or
very quickly. Parents often think that the child is developing a hearing problem
or has become suddenly deaf. Hearing tests, however, show normal hearing.
Children may also appear to be autistic or developmentally delayed.
The inability to understand language eventually affects the child's spoken
language which may progress to a complete loss of the ability to speak (mutism).
Children who have learned to read and write before the onset of auditory agnosia
can often continue communicating through written language. Some children develop
a type of gestural communication or sign-like language. The communication
problems may lead to behavioral or psychological problems. Intelligence usually
appears to be unaffected.
The loss of language may be preceded by an epileptic seizure that usually
occurs at night. At some time, 80 percent of children with LKS have one or more
seizures. The seizures usually stop by the time the child becomes a teenager.
All LKS children have abnormal electrical brain activity on both the right and
left sides of their brains.
Next: How common is Landau-Kleffner syndrome? »
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