ETIOLOGY AND COURSE OF CERTAIN HEMIPLEGIAS WITH APHASIA IN CHILDHOOD
Randolph K. Byers M.D.1 and
William T. McLean M.D.1
1 Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, and the Neurological Division of the Medical Department of the Children's Hospital of Boston
The histories of 12 children who suffered acquired hemiplegia with aphasia have been reviewed. Although in four the onset was prolonged, it was usually not sufficiently characteristic to allow diagnosis and treatment prior to the development of the complete syndrome. The dominant hemisphere, as demonstrated by the lesion, did not correspond accurately with socially described handedness. Arteriograms were successful in demonstrating vascular malformation or thrombosis in six of seven children on whom they were attempted. Recovery has been followed in 10 children over a period of years. All regained speech spontaneously, and four appear intact, or virtually so. All of the others show psychologic and neurologic residue. Psychologic steps during recovery have been briefly indicated, and one child having an expressive aphasia has been more fully described. Two children have had recurrent seizures.
