Category Archive

Common Seizure Types

Absence seizures: what they look like and how to react

February 11, 2016

By Deron Hamel The scene is a play rehearsal. Two high-school students, a boy and a girl, are practising their parts. Suddenly, the girl pauses. She stares blankly, appearing lost in her thoughts. Several seconds pass. She then she resumes speaking, as though nothing has happened. One of the students asks another if a teacher…

Focal dyscognitive seizures explored in new video

January 21, 2016

By Deron Hamel A businessman is giving a presentation in a boardroom. Suddenly, he stops midspeech and begins to blankly stare. Then he starts to fidget and wander. One of his colleagues notices something is not right, but she has seen this before. She walks over to the man and slowly begins to guide him…

Startle Epilepsy

August 8, 2011

Startle epilepsy is a type of reflex epilepsy in which seizures are provoked by loud noises or sudden surprises. Most patients with startle epilepsy are only sensitive to one sensory modality (i.e. temperature, taste, sound, pressure). However, it is the unexpected nature of the stimulus rather than the sensory modality that characterizes startle epilepsy. Patients…

Simple Partial Seizures

August 8, 2011

(Focal Cortical Seizures) Simple partial seizures result from epileptic activity localized in one part of the brain, usually the cortex or limbic system. Consciousness is not impaired. Someone experiencing a simple partial seizure can talk and answer questions. S/he will remember what happened during the seizure. Simple partial seizures take different forms in different people.…