This thesis is written within the field of special needs educations and was conducted at the Department of Special Needs Education (Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo). The overall aim of the PhD project was to explore the relationship between isolated epileptiform activity during sleep (nocturnal epileptiform activity (NEA) and language impairments. The project's prolonged goal was to gain knowledge to support the early identification of children with NEA. therefore, particular focus was given to identifying the language symptoms of NEA. Two studies are comprised in the PhD project.
The first study, a systematic review, is presented in one article. In this study, IEA was found more often in children with language impairments than in typically developing children. Moreover, NEA was found more often than IEA during wakefulness in children with language impairment. Last, NEA was found more often in children with language regression and language impairments, than in children with speech impairments.
The second study, a cross sectional study, is presented in two articles. In this study, delayed language abilities were found in children With NEA. NEA-related factors (amount of NEA, number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), lateralisation and localisation) were found to have little impact on language, although lateralisation and localisation of NEA showed some effect. moreover, Language impairment was more pronounced than difficulties within non-verbal domains in children with NEA. Children with NEA showed specifically poor results on phonology and naming speed, in addition to delayed language abilities. Last, alteration in language development, as well as cognitive impairments (such as problems with executive functioning particularly if alterations in functioning occur), sleep problems, sound sensitivity and suspected seizures, were found to be indicators of NEA.
Based on these finding, it could be concluded that NEA seem to be a contributing factor to language impairments. More than this,it seems like specifically NEA affect language in particular and, last that NEA affects som aspects of language.