title: Language in benign childhood epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes abbreviated form: rolandic epilepsy and language.
abstract: Although Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECTS) has a good prognosis, a few studies have suggested the existence of language disorders relating to the interictal dysfunction of perisylvian language areas. In this study, we focused on language assessment in 16 children aged 6-15 currently affected by BECTS or in remission. An important proportion of children showed moderate or more severe language impairment. The most affected domains were expressive grammar and literacy skills. We found linguistic deficits during the course of epilepsy but also persistent deficits in children in remission, suggesting possible long-term effects. Our results support the hypothesis that BECTS may be associated with impairment to language and suggest the possibility of a direct link between epileptic activity and language development, and the existence of long-term consequences.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Langage and Handicap (JE 2321), Université François-Rabelais, Tours, France. cmonjauze@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Monjauze
authors.forename: Laurice
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tuller
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hommet
authors.forename: Marie-Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barthez
authors.forename: Abdelhamid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khomsi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D019305:Epilepsy, Rolandic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008037:Linguistics; D008297:Male