Diagnosis of Epilepsy, Epilepsy Treatment, Epilepsy Management, Seizure, Epileptic Seizure

DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT

How is epilepsy diagnosed?

• How is epilepsy diagnosed?
• Diagnosing epilepsy in a child
• Accepting a diagnosis of epilepsy
• Can an epilepsy counsellor help?

How is epilepsy diagnosed?

Epilepsy is not one condition. There are numerous epilepsy syndromes that are characterised by seizure type, EEG pattern, causes, age of onset, the existence of developmental delay and prognosis. Your diagnosing specialist will endeavour to identify an epilepsy syndrome but this isn’t always possible.

In diagnosing epilepsy, the presence of seizures is often the determining factor. An eyewitness report of the event and the person’s own description of what happened prior to the event and how they felt afterwards can be your doctor’s best diagnostic tools.

All the tests the doctor might order are to gather specific data on the kind of seizures you are experiencing and to confirm what is basically diagnosed through observation.

Your doctor will conduct a neurological examination that might include a test to measure the electrical activity of the brain, called an Electroencephalogram (EEG). This will help determine where in the brain the electrochemical activity that is generating the seizure activity is occurring.

Specialised imaging tests such as Computerised Tomography (CT) scans and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans may be required, along with blood tests. For some tests you will need to be hospitalised while your seizures are observed and recordings taken during the event. This kind of testing is not always called for, nor is it always conclusive.

It is important to understand that even if the tests are normal, you can still have epilepsy. A diagnosis of epilepsy is largely based on history and a detailed description of the episodes.

Diagnosing epilepsy in a child

Diagnosing epilepsy in a child can be a harrowing experience. Many a parent has observed seizures at home that are not subsequently picked up in hospitals by the most sophisticated scanning. They are sometimes told to stop imagining that their child has epilepsy. This is a frustrating situation for a parent and fortunately most doctors will now listen sympathetically to parents and treat them as a primary information source in helping to manage and correctly diagnose their children’s health.

By videoing the event or behaviour when it occurs, parents/carers can provide their doctor with recorded evidence to support their personal observations. This can sometimes be very helpful in obtaining an appropriate diagnosis.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria has a video camera available for loan.

Accepting a diagnosis of epilepsy

A diagnosis of epilepsy, either for yourself, your partner or for someone you care for, can be distressing news. While some people are, in fact, relieved to finally learn the reason behind their ‘blackouts’, ‘turns’ or ‘peculiar feelings’, a diagnosis of epilepsy is probably not what they were hoping to hear.

Some people find epilepsy an especially difficult diagnosis to accept. They would rather not know they had epilepsy. It’s true that some people go into a kind of denial: they just can’t believe that the doctor got it right. They may be aware that they have had a few ‘turns’ or ‘blackouts’ but never attributed these events to epilepsy. Nor does it help that many people can’t remember having a seizure other than becoming aware of an injury or some muscle soreness when they have recovered.

There is a lot of information to absorb once you have learned that you are dealing with epilepsy. You may find it useful to talk with one of the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria’s epilepsy counsellors, who will be able to answer your questions.

The information in this website will provide you with information you need to know to ensure epilepsy has the most minimal impact possible on your life. You will find answers to many of your questions as well as information that will help you make better informed decisions about how you manage your situation in the longer term.

Can an epilepsy counsellor help?

In many cases seizures can be controlled. For some people seizure freedom comes quickly while, for others, it may take a year or two.

However, there will be those who will never be totally seizure-free, though they can learn how to minimise the impact of epilepsy in their lives. Whatever your circumstances you need a good understanding of what is happening to you.

The Epilepsy Foundation has experienced epilepsy counsellors who can help you with information, advice and practical support.

 

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