Introduction: It is a complex task establishing a relation between epilepsy and language since there are so many variables involved. Therefore, expressive and comprehensive language alterations can occur, and in some cases the musical and prosodic preservation can exists. Objectives: The objective of this study was to report the case of a child with multifocal refractory epileptic seizures, and an interesting dissociation between language functions but with musicality preservation. Method: Case report of a 9 year-old child interned in the Epilepsy Surgery Program (PCE) of São Lucas Hospital (HSL) of PUCRS, in November of 2004, presenting refractory epileptic seizures. Clinical, neurophysiologic and imaging exams were done, and also a neuropsychological assessment. Results: The patient’s linguistic aspects indicate a dysphasia, with important altercations in oral language’s expression and comprehension, but adapted prosodic speech and singing. Besides, an important neuropsychomotor development global deficit and behavioral altercations were shown by the assessment. Conclusion: This study’s data indicates the refractory epilepsy in childhood interference in cognitive abilities, as the epileptogenic focus is a determinant factor in language disorders. It’s remarkable the importance of a neuropsychological assessment to evaluate this pathology’s altercations.
language; refractory epilepsy; language disorders; neuropsychological assessment