Landau-Kleffner syndrome

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Read about the causes, symptoms and treatments for Landau-Kleffner syndrome.

Key points

  • The signs of Landau-Kleffner syndrome usually appear when a child is between three and eight years old. They include mild seizures along with a gradual loss of ability to speak and to understand language.
  • The exact cause of Landau-Kleffner syndrome is not known. It may be caused by an underlying brain problem, or there may be a genetic association in some children.
  • Seizures occur in about 70 per cent of children with this syndrome. They are infrequent but can be treated with medications. The seizures usually disappear by age 15.
  • Language difficulties will likely improve with normalization of the EEG over time, but in most cases, special teaching methods and classroom supports are needed.
Last updated: September 17th 2025