Place de l’EEG dans le diagnostic des troubles neurodéveloppementaux

Abstract

Most electroencephalograms (EEG) are requested in the work-up of an epileptic disorder and in its follow-up. In the absence of epilepsy, the study of EEG characteristics is documented in mental retardation (MR), specific language impairment (SLI) and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). In this review, we will discuss separately the indications for and limitations of an EEG in these three major neurodevelopmental situations. Despite being most often of limited value, EEG can provide useful aetiological clues in cases of mental retardation of unknown aetiology and remains an important diagnostic procedure in children with language regression when an acquired epileptic aphasia (Landau-Kleffner syndrome) is suspected. The finding of interictal epileptiform activity (IEA) in SLI and ASD is not uncommon and usually has to be considered as an epiphenomenon not related to the cognitive and behavioural symptoms despite an on-going debate.