Why Do Some Epileptic Children Lose Their Ability to Speak?

Question

A six-year-old child was diagnosed with epilepsy a few months ago. Once lively and active, the child has recently started to stop speaking. Why do some epileptic children experience aphasia?

Answer

Aphasia refers to the impairment of an individual’s ability to understand or use language. This condition is typically caused by brain damage, which affects the individual’s ability to speak, understand, read, and write. One side of the brain usually handles language functions, known as the language-dominant hemisphere, and the language center is located in the left temporal lobe.