Epilepsy
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder in which a wide range seizure types are seen. The term epilepsy is a broad term for a variety of seizure disorders all of which are classified by recurring, unpredictable seizures.
(Schachter, S., Shafer, P., Sirven, J., 2014)
What is a seizure?
Seizures are not a disease, but are an outward symptom stemming from a variety of neurological disorders in the brain. A seizure is a sudden increase or decrease of electrical activity in the brain. A variety of signs and symptoms can be exhibited in any one seizure ranging from being hardly noticeable to completely debilitating.
(Schachter, S., Shafer, P., Sirven, J., 2014)
Causes
The actual act of a seizure is caused by either an increase, or deduction in electrical brain activity. Often referred to an "electrical storm", the activity either inhibits or increases brain activity. The abnormal activity can be in specific areas of the brain, or over the brain in general.
(WebMD, 2015).
The causes of seizures and epilepsy however, are different. Any person, at any age, any time of their life can have reoccurring seizures, and diagnosed with epilepsy. The following are risk-factors that increase the likelihood of being diagnosed with epilepsy:
Characteristics
There are three distinct stages to a seizure: beginning, middle, and end. While each person with epilepsy feels and experiences seizures differently, there are commonalities between stages of a seizure. Some people will experience each stage distinctly, while others cannot separate the stages.
Beginning: Some people will experience a change in feelings thoughts, sensations, or behavior before a seizure occurs, while others feel no different. This experience can happen days, hours or minutes before a seizure occurs. These changes are usually similar each time a seizure will occur. The following may occur:
Middle: The middle of the seizure is the stage that all with epilepsy experience. This is the stage that occurs from the first symptom of a seizure, until the abnormal activity. The actual seizure can vary greatly in length, signs, symptoms, and appearance. The following are common characteristics of a seizure:
After: After experiencing a seizure, people may recover immediately, in minutes, or take a few hours to feel like themselves again. The following are common experiences after a seizure:
Adaptations
Accommodations:
Resources for Parents
What does it look like to have an epileptic seizure?
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder in which a wide range seizure types are seen. The term epilepsy is a broad term for a variety of seizure disorders all of which are classified by recurring, unpredictable seizures.
(Schachter, S., Shafer, P., Sirven, J., 2014)
What is a seizure?
Seizures are not a disease, but are an outward symptom stemming from a variety of neurological disorders in the brain. A seizure is a sudden increase or decrease of electrical activity in the brain. A variety of signs and symptoms can be exhibited in any one seizure ranging from being hardly noticeable to completely debilitating.
(Schachter, S., Shafer, P., Sirven, J., 2014)
Causes
The actual act of a seizure is caused by either an increase, or deduction in electrical brain activity. Often referred to an "electrical storm", the activity either inhibits or increases brain activity. The abnormal activity can be in specific areas of the brain, or over the brain in general.
(WebMD, 2015).
The causes of seizures and epilepsy however, are different. Any person, at any age, any time of their life can have reoccurring seizures, and diagnosed with epilepsy. The following are risk-factors that increase the likelihood of being diagnosed with epilepsy:
- New cases of epilepsy are most commonly diagnosed at an early age (before age 10)
- New cases of epilepsy are also commonly diagnosed after age 55 in combination with strokes, Alzheimer's disease, and brain tumors
- Traumatic brain injury including falls, blows to the head, gunshot, etc.
- Lower socioeconomic status
- Low birth size
- Babies born with abnormal areas on the brain
- Illegal drug use
- Intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Cerebral palsy
- Family history of epilepsy or seizures
(Schachter, S., Shafer, P., Sirven, J., 2014)
- Illness (with or without fever)
- Lack of sleep
- Drug and/or alcohol withdrawal
- Missed dose of medication
- Over-the-counter-drugs, medication, or prescriptions
- Diet changes and nutritional deficits
- Flashing lights
- Patterns
- Sensory inputs: sounds, smells, sights
(Schachter, S., Shafer, P., Sirven, J., 2014)
Characteristics
There are three distinct stages to a seizure: beginning, middle, and end. While each person with epilepsy feels and experiences seizures differently, there are commonalities between stages of a seizure. Some people will experience each stage distinctly, while others cannot separate the stages.
Beginning: Some people will experience a change in feelings thoughts, sensations, or behavior before a seizure occurs, while others feel no different. This experience can happen days, hours or minutes before a seizure occurs. These changes are usually similar each time a seizure will occur. The following may occur:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Numbness or tingling in the body
- Deja vu
- Strange feelings
- A change in smells, sounds, or tastes
- Racing thoughts
- A feeling of panic or fear
- Feelings of calmness
- Loss or blurring of vision
(Schachter, S., Shafer, P., Sirven, J., 2014)
Middle: The middle of the seizure is the stage that all with epilepsy experience. This is the stage that occurs from the first symptom of a seizure, until the abnormal activity. The actual seizure can vary greatly in length, signs, symptoms, and appearance. The following are common characteristics of a seizure:
- Loss of awareness of consciousness
- Unusual or lack of taste, sound, or vision
- "Out of body" or disconnected feelings
- Confusion
- Forgetfulness
- Difficulty talking or swallowing
- Abnormal eye movement (staring, darting, blinking)
- Lack of movement and muscle tone or rigid muscles (slumping over, stiffness, falling, unable to move)
- Tremors, twitching, or jerking motions (can occur on one side or area or the body, both sides, spread to other areas)
- Repeated movements
- Convulsions
- Racing heart
- Difficulty breathing
- Change in skin color
- Dilated or enlarged pupils
- Sweating
- Lose of control of excretions
(Schachter, S., Shafer, P., Sirven, J., 2014)
After: After experiencing a seizure, people may recover immediately, in minutes, or take a few hours to feel like themselves again. The following are common experiences after a seizure:
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Slow to respond
- Memory loss
- Difficulty talking or writing
- Feeling scared, anxious, stressed, embarrassed
- Headache
- Nausea
- Thirst
- Weakness
- May have physical injuries resulting from seizure (bruises, cuts, broken bones, head injury)
(Schachter, S., Shafer, P., Sirven, J., 2014)
Adaptations
Accommodations:
- Use thematic instruction to provide multiple opportunities for engagement with content and learning
- Use manipulatives and physical objects that the students can physically move
- Use a daily report card to communicate with parents regarding work completed, assignments, and any medical changes that occurred during the day.
- Time extensions and opportunity to make up work due to seizures
- Provide alternative means of recess, brain breaks, or activities that support distinct needs of the student
- Provide meta-cognition and memory building strategies
- Evaluate student progress based on a variety of assessments, assignments, and activities. This allows the student many opportunities to show what he or she knows..especially if the seizures are frequent causing the student to miss instructional or assessment time.
- Shorten amount of reading required and provide summary materials of the text
- Use appropriate ability-level text
- Allow oral responses versus written responses
Resources for Parents
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDHS) www.ninds.nih.gov
- EpilepsyUSA- a magazine sent out twice a month that discusses medical breakthroughs, suggestions, tips, information, and events for families effected by epilepsy
- Epilepsy and the Family: A New Guide by Richard Lechtenberg
- National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC)- provides information about epilepsy, centers close to home, events, tips, and more
- My Epilepsy Diary app- an app developed by the Epilepsy Foundation that allows an easy way to track, manage, note changes, and have data about seizures in one place
- The Lion's Secret by Kelly Dicket
- Lee the Rabbit with Epilepsy by Deborah Moss
- The Great Katie Kate Explains Epilepsy by M. Maitland DeLand, M.D.
What does it look like to have an epileptic seizure?