What is Landau-Kleffner syndrome?
Landau-Kleffner syndrome is a rare form of epilepsy that affects only children, more commonly boys between the ages of three and nine years. It is not usually life-threatening.
What causes Landau-Kleffner syndrome?
The cause of LKS is unknown, but it is thought that it may be connected to genetic mutations.
LKS is diagnosed via medical examination which may include brain imaging (MRI).
What are the symptoms of Landau-Kleffner syndrome?
Symptoms of LKS may include:
- Seizures
- A loss of speech and language understanding which may be sudden or gradual
- Behavioural changes
- Difficulties with fine motor coordination and movement.
In LKS, children usually experience a loss of their language skills. This may happen suddenly or gradually.