Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study if interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) are associated with language performance or pre-/perinatal factors in children with developmental language disorder (DLD). METHODS: We recorded routine EEG in wake and sleep in 205 children aged 2.9-7.1 years with DLD, without neurologic diseases or intellectual disability. We examined the language performance of the children and collected data on pre-/perinatal factors. RESULTS: Interictal epileptiform discharges were not associated with lower language performance. Children with so-called "rolandic", i.e. centrotemporoparietal, IEDs had better language skills, but age explained this association. Most pre-/perinatal factors evaluated did not increase the risk of rolandic IEDs, except for maternal smoking (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.4-14). We did not find electrical status epilepticus during slow-wave sleep (ESES)/spike-and-wave activation in sleep (SWAS) in any children. CONCLUSIONS: Interictal epileptiform discharges are not associated with lower language performance, and ESES/SWAS is not common in children with DLD. SIGNIFICANCE: Routine EEGs do not bring additional information about language performance in children with DLD who do not have any neurologic diseases, seizures, intellectual disability, or regression of language development.