[Reading epilepsy]

Abstract

Reading epilepsy in many cases may be identified by clicking sensations or myoclonic jaw jerks, which are supposed to be prodromal symptoms to generalized epileptic convulsions. Although these prodromal symptoms were considered as characteristic by the first authors describing the illness, they were not observed in all the published cases. In this paper a modified classification following the original proposal of Bickford is suggested. It is now proposed to differentiate a primary specific respectively nonspecific form from a secondary type. Most of the cases described were between 15 and 28 years of age. Probably the disorder is only of transient nature. The pathogenic roots are multifactorial, and the seizures cannot be attached to typical focus-regions. Decoding mechanisms and disorders of speech as sensoric restraints are obviously of great importance in actual provocation.