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.