Living with Landau-Kleffner syndrome
A rare nervous system disorder in childhood with repeated seizures and a sudden or gradual loss of the ability to understand or use language.
Understanding Landau-Kleffner syndrome
Children may lose the ability to understand or express language, suddenly or gradually. It is diagnosed when a doctor sees features such as loss of speech and an EEG that shows certain seizure activity. The cause is complex and varies from child to child.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Seizures
- Loss of speech
- Trouble understanding or expressing language
- Loss of developmental skills
- Attention and behavior problems
- Autistic behavior
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, genetic specialists and seizure and epilepsy specialists.
- 3Consider genetic testing
Changes in GRIN2A are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.
- 4Connect with expert centers
GRIN2B Foundation and Epilepsy Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Seizure and epilepsy specialists (epileptologist)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: GRIN2B Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with GRIN2B Foundation and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
Some cases may be due to an autoimmune response, and others have occurred in children with a GRIN2A gene variant. Not everyone with a GRIN2A variant develops LKS, and other genes and environmental factors may play a role.
Also known as: acquired epileptic aphasia; aphasia, acquired, with epilepsy; epilepsy, focal, with speech disorder and with or without impaired intellectual development; lks; lks - landau-kleffner syndrome
Patient organizations
- GRIN2B FoundationLandau-Kleffner syndrome · United States
- CureGRINLandau-Kleffner syndrome · United States
- CureGRIN FoundationLandau-Kleffner syndrome · United States
- Epilepsy FoundationEpilepsy · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Landau-Kleffner syndrome.
Explore research for Landau-Kleffner syndrome
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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