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Disability Library
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Seizures What is a seizure? The brain is the center that controls and regulates all voluntary and involuntary responses in the body. It consists of nerve cells that normally communicate with each other through electrical activity. A seizure occurs when part(s) of the brain receives a burst of abnormal electrical signals that temporarily interrupts normal electrical brain function. What are the different types of seizures? There are several different types of seizures, including the following:
partial
seizures
Partial seizures take place when abnormal electrical brain function occurs in one or more areas of one side of the brain. In about one-third of people with partial seizures, the person may experience an aura before the seizure occurs. An aura is a strange feeling, either consisting of visual changes, hearing abnormalities, or changes in the sense of smell. Two types of partial seizures include the following:
simple partial seizures
complex partial seizures
generalized seizures
absence seizures (formerly known as petit
mal seizures)
atonic
generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTC or
formerly known as grand mal seizures)
myoclonic seizures
infantile spasms
febrile seizures What causes a seizure? A person may experience one or many seizures. While the exact cause of the seizure may not be known, the more common seizures are caused by the following:
in newborns and infants:
birth trauma, congenital (present at birth) problems, fever,metabolic or chemical imbalances in the body in children, adolescents, and adults: alcohol or drugs, head trauma, infection, unknown reasons Other possible causes of seizures may include the following: brain tumor, neurological problems, drug withdrawal, medications What are the symptoms of a seizure? The person may have varying degrees of symptoms depending upon the type of seizure. The following are general symptoms of a seizure or warning signs of seizures. Symptoms or warning signs may include: staring, jerking movements of the arms and legs, stiffening of the body, loss of consciousness, breathing problems or breathing stops, loss of bowel or bladder control, falling suddenly for no apparent reason, not responding to noise or words for brief periods, appearing confused or in a haze, sleepiness and irritable upon waking in the morning, nodding the head or periods of rapid eye blinking and staring During the seizure, the person's lips may become bluish and breathing may not be normal. The movements are often followed by a period of sleep or disorientation. The symptoms of a seizure may resemble other problems or medical conditions. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis. How are seizures diagnosed? The full extent of the seizure may not be completely understood immediately after onset of symptoms, but may be revealed with a comprehensive medical evaluation and diagnostic testing. The diagnosis of a seizure is made with a physical examination and diagnostic tests. During the examination, the physician obtains a complete medical history of the person and family and asks when the seizures occurred. Seizures may be due to neurological problems and require further medical follow up. Diagnostic tests may include: blood tests electroencephalogram (EEG) - a procedure that records the brain's continuous, electrical activity by means of electrodes attached to the scalp. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body. computed tomography scan (Also called a CT or CAT scan.) - a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays. lumbar puncture (spinal tap) - a special needle is placed into the lower back, into the spinal canal. This is the area around the spinal cord. The pressure in the spinal canal and brain can then be measured. A small amount of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) can be removed and sent for testing to determine if there is an infection or other problems. CSF is the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. Treatment of a seizure: Specific treatment for a seizure will be determined by your physician based on: your age, overall health, and medical history type of the seizure frequency of the seizures your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies expectations for the course of the condition your opinion or preference The goal of seizure management is to control, stop, or decrease the frequency of the seizures without interfering with the normal activities of daily living (ADLs). The major goals of seizure management include the following: proper identification of the type of seizure using medication specific to the type of seizure using the least amount of medication to achieve adequate control maintaining appropriate medication levels Treatment may include: medications
There
are many types of medications used to treat seizures and
epilepsy. Medications are selected based on the type of seizure,
age of the patient, side effects, the cost of the medication,
and the adherence with the use of the medication.
It is important to take your medication on time and as
prescribed by your physician. Different people use up the
medication in their body differently, so adjustments (schedule
and dosage) may need to be made for the most effective seizure
control.
blood work
urine tests
electroencephalogram (EEG)
vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
VNS
attempts to control seizures by sending small pulses of energy
to the brain from the vagus nerve, which is a large nerve in the
neck. This is done by surgically placing a small battery into
the chest wall. Small wires are then attached to the battery and
placed under the skin and around the vagus nerve. The battery is
then programmed to send energy impulses every few minutes to the
brain. When the person feels a seizure coming on, he/she may
activate the impulses by holding a small magnet over the
battery. In many cases, this will help to stop the seizure. hoarseness pain or discomfort in the throat change in voice surgery Another treatment option for seizures is surgery. Surgery may be considered in a person who: has seizures that are unable to be controlled with medications. has seizures that always start in one area of the brain. has a seizure in a part of the brain that can be removed without disrupting important behaviors such as speech, memory, or vision.
Surgery for epilepsy and seizures is a very complicated
surgery performed by a specialized surgical team. The
operation may remove the part of the brain where the
seizures are occurring, or, sometimes, the surgery helps to
stop the spread of the bad electrical currents through the
brain.
A person may be awake during the surgery. The brain itself does not feel pain. With the person awake and able to follow commands, the surgeons are better able to make sure that important areas of the brain are not damaged. Surgery is not an option for everyone with seizures. Discuss this treatment option with your physician for more information. More information regarding the person with seizures or epilepsy: Make sure you or your child (if age appropriate) understand the type of seizure that is occurring and the type of medication(s) that are needed. Know the dose, time, and side effects of all medications. Consult your physician before taking other medications. Medications for seizures can interact with many other medications, causing the medications to work improperly and/or causing side effects Young women of childbearing age who are on seizure medications need to be informed that seizure medications are harmful to a fetus, and the medication may also decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Check with your state to understand any laws about people with epilepsy or seizures operating a motor vehicle. If a person has good control over the seizures, only minimal restrictions need to be placed on activities, in most cases. Specific follow-up will be determined by your physician. Medications for seizures may not be needed for the person's entire life. Some persons may be taken off their medications if they have been seizure-free for one to two years. This will be determined by your physician.
Mechanical aids can make life monumentally easier for people
with cerebral palsy. They are things like silverware,
wheelchairs, communication aids, writing aids and more that
have been adapted in one way or another for people who would
otherwise not be able to use them.
Many patients with cerebral palsy have such high muscle tone that they do not have full, if any, use of their hands. Silverware has been created to give these people more independence in their everyday lives. By adding grips, using special molds to create handles or by affixing straps or other modifications to the silverware, people who would not have been able to hold a fork on their own are now able to eat by themselves. Writing aids, such as pens or pencils, are other objects that many people with cerebral palsy have trouble manipulating, since frequently they have difficulties with small objects. Much like adapted silverware, pens and pencils have been adapted with added grips and handles so people with cerebral palsy can have far more success using them. Wheelchairs are essential for many people with cerebral palsy, but they are not always equipped for a person who cannot either roll the wheels by themselves in a manual chair, or they do not have the coordination to operate a motorized wheelchair with a joystick. Wheelchairs have also been adapted for these people, so that they do not have to have a person with them to operate their wheelchair. While most controls are hand-operated in wheelchairs, these chairs have been designed so that the controls lie behind the head. While there are more than one version of such a wheelchair, a common adaptation functions so that by simply pushing her or her head back against the headrest (where the controls are located) the chair will move forward, and can turn left or right depending on which direction he or she moves their head. Even reversing can be easily accomplished by activating the reverse switch, also located on the headrest. Communication aids are quite helpful for those whose speech patterns make it hard to conduct any form of in-depth conversation. For these people, it maybe easier to use a communication aid to talk with others. Communication aids vary greatly, and can range from a poster with pictures of things the person might want to a magnetic alphabet board so he or she can spell out what they are trying to convey. With the fairly recent leaps in technological advancement, computers have made a monumental change in many of the lives of people with cerebral palsy. Not only can they be used as a communication aid by reading aloud typed words on the screen, they can be adapted in such a way that the patient would be able to do most anything they wanted, even design websites. Many of these computers have touch screens, but special mouses and pointers fitted to one’s forehead if they are unable to operate a computer mouse. There are special keyboards with extra-large keys, and keyboard and special software created for people who use only one hand, or even one finger. There is software for people who have little or no control over their movement that helps them to dial and speak on the phone, or to be able to just type the first few letters in a word and have the computer “predict” what the word will be. All of these things and more have helped people with cerebral palsy to overcome their particular limitations and be able to accomplish everyday things that perhaps they would not have been able to with out the help of personalized mechanical aids. |
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The Cerebral Palsy Network©1997/2014. All graphics are the exclusive property of CPN, unless otherwise indicated. Contact Cerebral Palsy Network for further information. Last updated 04/22/14 |