The aim of this study was to investigate the speech problems in benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE) according to the seizure focus in EEG and semiology.

Twenty three patients [right origin (13 patients) or left side (10 patients)] who met the BRE criteria by International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) were prospectively enrolled. We excluded the patients who had abnormal MRI or showed both side spikes in EEG. Computerized Speech Lab was used to assess the speech characteristics of the patients.

The error pattern of laryngeal articulation in BRE was exclusively substitution of stop consonants, these errors showed more frequent in the left group (16.0% vs 25.5%). Voice onset time (VOT) of stop consonants and Total duration (TD) of word in both groups were prolonged than normal control group, especially in left group ( P <0.05). The first formant of vowel /o/ and second formant of /e/ were significantly decreased in left group ( P <0.05). The right group scored wider on pitch range (192.9±54.0 Hz) and energy range in spontaneous speech (14.2±6.4 dB) than the left group (233.3±12.5 Hz, 19.4±9.3 dB, respectively, P >0.05). Duration of counting (5 to 9) in left group slower than right group (8.6±1.7 vs 7.9±1.8 sec).

Our data suggested that interictal spikes and seizures in either centrotemporal sides, especially left side group, may induce speech problems. We recommend the logopedic and phoniatric evaluations of speech in BRE patients.