Background: Long-term outcome of rolandic epilepsy (RE) is associated with
a diversity of neuropsychological deficits in childhood, although RE is his
torically considered as a benign epileptic disorder. Dyslexia and other dev
elopmental disorders are associated with rolandic EEG traits. Aim: To inves
tigate if there is an association between the manifestation of a specific E
EG trait of RE and dyslexia. If the EEG traits are causing dyslexia, the co
gnitive deficits are supposed to be normalised after the EEG trait have res
olved.
Method: Thirty adolescents and young adults, who had previously received a
diagnosis of dyslexia by standard criteria, were included. Fifteen probands
(mean age = 15.9) with dyslexia and rolandic EEG traits were compared with
15 age- and sex-matched controls (mean age = 16.0) with normal EEG.
Results: There were no statistical differences between the groups according
to intelligence (Verbal IQ, Performance IQ and Arithmetical IQ) or spellin
g ability. However, there was a significant difference between the groups i
n reading ability of non-related words with the group without RE performing
better than the group with RE (p < 0.01). Attentional shifts in dichotic l
istening with forced or directed attention are generally found in 50-60% in
normative samples. However, the present date suggest an impaired attention
al shift in dichotic listening test for both groups. Only one third was abl
e to modulate their ear-preference. There were no group differences.
Conclusion: In general, both dyslectic groups did not show significant neur
opsychological deficits as compared to standard controls. However, there we
re more reading errors and a tendency to attention impairments in the group
with rolandic EEG trait as compared to the dyslectic group with normal EEG
. Possible pathogenic factors are discussed.