Is there a link between Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Prosopagnosia and Autism?

[inuit]

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone know's of a link between Aspergers (Autism), Prosopagnosia (face blindness) and Epilepsy?

- I believe I have AS (my GP also thinks this) though I'm unable to attain a diagnosis due to lack of diagnostic funding for adults (in my area).

- I am however currently being assessed for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. I've had symptoms of complex partial seizure all my life but never new what they were - never bothered to see about it until a month ago when a 'grand mal' seizure landed me in hospital.

- Prosopagnosia (face blindness) I have never been able to recognise faces. I have even failed to recognise my own mother! I constantly fail to recognise friends/family/collegues when they are out of there usual context (e.g. work collegues in the supermarket etc). I tend to use hairstyle's, glasses, facial hair, commonly worn clothing, gait etc as a means to recognise people - should any of these change however - I'm scuppered.

*I'm also Dyslexic - this is the least of my problems though!

Could any of the above be linked? all due to one origin as opposed to 3 separate conditions that I have? I have read somewhere that face blindness is prevalent is AS/Autism - but is there a common neurological/origin?

As for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy - TLE is can be caused by a problem/defect/trauma in the Temporal lobe - interesting though Prosopagnosia is also commonly caused by damage/defects in the temporal lobe - this would indicate a possible link but I have failed to find any papers/articles about the two (together) via google.

I mentioned the Prosopagnosia to my Neurologist - never asked whether there is a link though - I won't se e him again until after my tests (EEG, MRI) which will be in a month or two (the NHS (UK health provider) - whilst free - is so slow)

Anyone else have Prosopagnosia, TLE aswell as AS/Autism?

all thoughts welcome

[lackadaisical]

I don't have any format of Autism, but I was newly diagnosed with frontal lobe complex partial seizures.  In a crowd, I don't recognize my mom or husband.  Last night I was talking to my husband and while he was in the hallway and I was in the bedroom and I realized that I didn't know what he looked like until he stepped into the bedroom.  This is when I recognized him. Very troubling

[spitfire2]

Everything I've read in these posts makes complete sense.  I had refractory left temporal lobe epilepsy for many years, complex partial and 2ndary generalized seizures, but from what I've read, people who have refractory right temporal lobe epilepsy often have a more difficult time with facial recognition (thanks for teaching me about the word "prosopagnosia," didn't know of it before.)  I've had many problems with short term/episodic memory, since my left temporal lobe was affected, but not facial recognition, for obvious reasons.  And yes, I agree with all of you, I feel doctors, and often times many other people, do not know what those of us with epilepsy deal with on a daily basis.  Between seizures, epilepsy is the "hidden disease," but we are always dealing with the impacts and fears of seizures.

It's interesting how we all have different symptoms, depending upon where our seizures originate in the brain, isn't it?  
Thanks to all of you for some really interesting input!  :)

[3456danie]

Hello!
I'm a 54 yr old woman with grand mal epilepsy -right temporal lobe- and will have 1-2 seizures a month (they only last a minute), and sometimes go through a 2 week phase with 2-3 seizures a day.
I learned the word "prosopagnosia" 2 years ago, searching on the computer... And it only makes sense to me that not recognizing faces is linked to the epilepsy (and of course, some people may only have prosopagnosia without the epilepsy, or vice versa), since yes, the problem is caused to a traumatism in the same part of the brain!! No need to ask a doctor... These doctors who have studied a lot often don't know what we know, we who live with epilepsy - this is something I've found out too often.
People often get offended because I don't recognize them time after time... I tell them they should take it as a compliment if I don't recognize them, because it means they have regular features (for me to recognize someone, he/she often has to have a bold head, ears or teeth sticking out, a huge stomach...or be super good looking). When you dont recognize people, you can't bond as much...lots of possible friendships are lost because you don't say hello time after time to people in your neighborhood... People take you for a snob... Not easy, and it teaches you how to live alone more.

[blasterhead]

Hi

I am 46, have undiagnosed Aspergers and prosopognasia (though I can recognise people using various other cues or if I know the people really well and see them day to day).  I have actually failed to recognise relatives and boyfriends (when seen where I am not expecting to see them) or mistaken other people for them because to me, my brain kind of groups them as "same". This morning have been having some unusual brain/mind activity and started googling.  This is only anecdotal of course, but maybe it helps.