Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations and sometimes loss of awareness.
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Can epilepsy cause developmental delays in children?
While some children with epilepsy have global learning problems (developmental delay) caused by extensive brain abnormalities, more often these children have a variety of specific learning problems that can be attributed to a focal brain abnormality.
How does epilepsy affect daily life for children?
Epilepsy medication or regularly having seizures can affect your performance and ability to concentrate, and make you feel tired or nervous. Some children also have problems interacting with other children or their teachers.
Does epilepsy affect growth?
In conclusion, physical growth seems to be affected in patients with epilepsy. This may be due to hormonal imbalance as evident by reduced post provocation GH levels and IGF-1 levels in the included group of patients.
How does epilepsy affect your everyday life?
People with epilepsy often experience changes in their quality of life such as less mobility, as well as the impact on learning, school attendance, employment, relationships, and social interactions.
What are long term effects of epilepsy?
Effects of Seizures on the Brain Other changes in the brain may lead to a permanent change in personality and seizures in the temporal lobe. These changes may lead to loss of sex drive, over-bearing tendencies, single-minded conversation habits, anxiety over every day events, and a decrease in spontaneous activities.
Does epilepsy affect motor skills?
Some young people with epilepsy may experience motor difficulties, including issues with fine motor skills, gross motor skills and coordination. Gross motor skills relate to the larger muscles that are used for actions like walking and jumping or throwing and kicking balls.
Do children with epilepsy have learning difficulties?
Children with epilepsy are at risk for having attention problems, learning disabilities, and other cognitive weaknesses, such as difficulty with memory or problem-solving skills. Often, seizures and cognitive difficulties can be caused by the same underlying problem in the brain.
Why is epilepsy a developmental disability?
Classification of epilepsy Epilepsy is often caused by the same brain damage or maldevelopment that caused the intellectual disability. It is much more common in some conditions, particularly Tuberous Sclerosis. In people with Down’s syndrome, the onset of epilepsy may form part of the onset of Alzheimer’s.
What is the most common problem that may affect a child with epilepsy?
Cognitive impairments that affect language, memory, attention, and other abilities critical to normal development are common among people with epilepsy. As many as half of those with the disorder experience learning problems, ranging from mild difficulties to severe dysfunction.
What are the complications of childhood epilepsy?
Children with epilepsy are at increased risk for psychologic, behavioral, cognitive, neurologic, academic, and social problems caused by their chronic neurologic condition, which may have a significant impact on quality of life independent of the seizures [1-9].
Is a child with epilepsy considered special needs?
The nation’s special education law specifically mentions epilepsy in its definition of “Other Health Impairment,” a category under which children may be found eligible for special education and related services.
Can seizures affect learning?
Daytime seizures can affect learning by reducing alertness and by interfering with short-term information storage and abstraction. Frequent and uncontrolled seizures impair learning new information due to the amount of time that the individual is unaware of the environment.
What is childhood epilepsy called?
Benign rolandic epilepsy, also called benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes, is one of the most common childhood seizure disorders. Seizures typically begin when children are 2 to 13 years old.
Can childhood seizures cause brain damage?
Prognosis of Seizures in Children A seizure itself does not appear to damage the brain or cause lasting problems unless it continues for more than about an hour (most seizures last only a few minutes). However, many disorders that cause seizures can cause lasting problems.
How does epilepsy affect behavior?
The types of behavioral problems associated with epilepsy include attention deficit, hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, aggression, and autism spectrum disorder. Early identification and treatment of behavioral problems provides the best possible outcome.
Does epilepsy affect personality?
The most common mood disorders in people with epilepsy are major depression and dysthymia. Some people have milder forms of depression that may also affect quality of life and respond to treatment. Anxiety, while not technically a mood disorder, is another common emotion that occurs more often in people with epilepsy.
Can children with epilepsy live normal lives?
Many people with epilepsy can conduct a normal life. However, patients who have had epilepsy for a long time or whose epilepsy is difficult to control are at higher risk for unemployment. They may also need assistance in their daily life activities.
What foods should epileptics avoid?
white bread; non-wholegrain cereals; biscuits and cakes; honey; high-sugar drinks and foods; fruit juices; chips; mashed potatoes; parsnips; dates and watermelon. In general, processed or overcooked foods and over-ripe fruits.
What is the life expectancy of someone with epilepsy?
On average, people with epilepsy live 10–12 years less than those who do not have the condition. Summary: On average, people with epilepsy live 10-12 years fewer than those who do not have the condition. Excess mortality is particularly pronounced among people with epilepsy and mental disorders.
What are 3 causes of epilepsy?
- a stroke.
- a brain tumour.
- a severe head injury.
- drug abuse or alcohol misuse.
- a brain infection.
- a lack of oxygen during birth.
Does epilepsy cause weakness?
One of the most common symptoms of epilepsy is fatigue — chronic and overwhelming feelings of exhaustion, tiredness, or weakness.
Can epilepsy cause coordination problems?
This condition had previously been known as spinocerebellar ataxia with epilepsy (SCAE). The first symptom of MEMSA is usually cerebellar ataxia, which refers to problems with coordination and balance due to defects in the part of the brain that is involved in coordinating movement (cerebellum ).
Can epilepsy affect your legs?
A tonic or clonic seizure can also begin in one area of the brain (called a partial or focal seizure), affecting only one part of the body such as an arm or a leg. Tonic or clonic seizures can start as partial and become generalized.
What abilities are affected by epilepsy?
Epilepsy can affect your cognitive skills They involve mental activities such as thinking, understanding, learning and remembering. The ability to make sense of new information is crucial to successful learning.