Reading performance in children with rolandic epilepsy correlates with nocturnal epileptiform activity, but not with epileptiform activity while awake

Objective: An association between language impairment and rolandic epilepsy is frequently reported. This impairment could be correlated with the amount of nocturnal epileptiform activity. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 26 children with rolandic epilepsy and/or rolandic spikes. All had undergone a 24-hour EEG and neuropsychological assessment within 2 weeks. Reading performance (reading words and sentences) and intelligence were measured. Results: There was a significant negative correlation between amount of nocturnal epileptiform activity and reading sentences R = -0.525 (P = 0.008). There was a trend in this correlation for reading words R = -0.398 (P = 0.054). We found a negative correlation between amount of nocturnal epileptiform activity and Verbal IQ (R = -0.51 P = 0.08). No correlation was found between reading performance or Verbal IQ and amount of diurnal epileptiform activity. Conclusions: Reading performance is impaired in children with rolandic epilepsy and is correlated with the amount of nocturnal epileptiform activity.