Child and adolescent psychiatry: Landau-Kleffner syndrome: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Child and adolescent psychiatry: Landau-Kleffner syndrome

Sample item

A 5-year-old with normal early speech gradually stops understanding spoken words over some months. Hearing is normal and sleep EEG shows epileptiform discharges. Which diagnosis fits?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Acquired epileptic aphasia (Landau-Kleffner syndrome)

Landau-Kleffner syndrome causes acquired auditory agnosia and loss of language with epileptiform EEG activity, especially in sleep. It differs from disintegrative disorder, which has broader regression.

Option by option

  • A. Childhood disintegrative disorder

    Disintegrative disorder involves regression in several domains, not only language.

  • B. Autism spectrum disorder

    Autism begins in early childhood without this pattern of acquired loss in a child with normal early speech.

  • C. Rett syndrome

    Rett syndrome occurs in girls with loss of hand skills and hand-wringing.

  • D. Acquired epileptic aphasia (Landau-Kleffner syndrome) (correct)

    Correct. Language loss with epileptiform EEG and normal hearing fits.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is D, Acquired epileptic aphasia (Landau-Kleffner syndrome). Landau-Kleffner syndrome causes acquired auditory agnosia and loss of language with epileptiform EEG activity, especially in sleep.

Why is "Childhood disintegrative disorder" not the answer?

Disintegrative disorder involves regression in several domains, not only language.

Why is "Autism spectrum disorder" not the answer?

Autism begins in early childhood without this pattern of acquired loss in a child with normal early speech.

Why is "Rett syndrome" not the answer?

Rett syndrome occurs in girls with loss of hand skills and hand-wringing.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Child and adolescent psychiatry: Landau-Kleffner syndrome in Psychiatry. It differs from disintegrative disorder, which has broader regression.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Child and adolescent psychiatry: Landau-Kleffner syndrome?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.