The goal of this study was to investigate the incidence of epilepsy and also the EEG findings among children with autism (A), a devastating disorder, and to compare these data to an EEG control group. EEGs were quantified as to the degree of epileptiform activity and also slow wave abnormalities. Abnormal EEGs were found in 75% of the 59 A children and 82% of their 151 EEGs; 46% had clinical seizures. Nearly all children with seizures had epileptiform activity, but almost 20% of those with spike discharges did not have clinical attacks. Slow wave abnormalities were more frequent and of a greater degree of severity in the A group, compared to controls. One new finding was that a greater variability of EEG abnormalities was found in the A group. Therapeutic implications, based on these latter findings, are discussed.

No abstract

This report shows that a patient with the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome had fewer clinical seizures and also fewer generalized bilateral spike and wave complexes over a 24-hour period while exposed to Mozart music (K.448) for 10 minutes every hour during wakefulness.

Electroencephalographic and clinical findings are reported for 100 patients with the Lennox-Gastaut (LGS) triad of slow bilateral spike and wave (BSW), retardation and multiple seizures. Neurological and mental deficits were frequently observed, especially in patients who developed seizures before age 1 yr. More than half of the patients had focal epileptiform discharges that peaked in occurrence at age 4-6 yrs. EEG follow-up showed that background frequency slowed when patients developed the LGS pattern, and increased after recovery. Only 2 patients developed normal EEGs on follow-up, although 22 patients no longer showed the LGS pattern after an average of 3 yrs 3 mos follow-up.