Regression (decay in function) of previously developed language in young children is usually considered to be a sign of autism or of a degenerative disorder of the brain. The author and his colleagues1 studied the clinical characteristics of 177 children who developed language regression. Two-thirds of the children had brain wave examinations (EEG); of those 50% had abnormal findings.

Almost 90% of the children with language regression in early childhood met the criteria for autism (“autistic spectrum disorder”). This was most likely if the language regression occurred before age 3. After age 3, it was associated with a concurrent occurrence of seizures; if seizures were already present, the development or presence of autistic behavior usually was small. At all ages, language regression occurred more often in males than females. Language regression before the age of 3 was often associated with autism but not with seizures; at age 3 or older, it was often associated with seizures but not autism. Thus, age is an important factor in knowing the implications of this decay of language.

Comment:

Language regression in young children is an important sign of developmental brain damage. An examination by a pediatric neurologist is very important to the evaluation of its possible causes; these examinations need to include an EEG evaluation. The usefulness of anticonvulsant therapy is still unsettled in both groups of children with language regression; those with seizures but not autistic behavior and those with autistic behavior but no seizures.

¹ Shinnar S et al. Language Regression in Childhood. Pediatric Neurology. 2001; 24: 185-191