Electroencephalographic abnormalities in preschool children with language delay

ABSTRACT

Background: Most children seem to be slow in the initial days of learning language but some children continue to have problems. Studies show that speech and language development affects 5–10% of preschool children. A high proportion of electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities and epileptic syndromes has been found in children with severe language impairments in western studies. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to look at the rate of occurrence of EEG abnormalities in preschool children with language disorders in the local population. Materials and Methods: Fifty two preschool children (<5 years) who present with complaints of language delay/regression to Department of Audiology and speech pathology and psychiatry were included in the study. Children with concomitant hearing impairment, orofacial anomalies, and medical illness were excluded from the study. Ethical clearance was taken from the Institutional Ethical committee. After the initial assessment, International Classification of Diseases 10 was used to diagnose language dysfunction with or without co morbid neurological or psychiatric manifestations. EEG was done on the sample and the reports analyzed. Chi-square test was used to examine statistical significance between the presence of EEG abnormalities and other categorical variables, while independent t-test was used to examine the statistical significance with that of continuous variables such as age. Associations and differences were said to be significant when P < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the sample was 49.85 months. There was a higher number of male 32 (61.5%) in comparison to females 20 (38.5%). 42 (80.8%) children of the sample had abnormal EEG discharges such as spikes, sharp and wave pattern, focal and generalized. There was higher prevalence of EEG abnormalities in girls compared to boys (P = 0.008). Children with epilepsy had higher EEG abnormalities which was statistically significant (P = 0.031). Conclusion: EEG is an useful tool in assessing children with language delay and may be a trial of antiepileptic medications can help these children.