Types of Seizures
There are more than 20 different types of seizures. It is possible for a person to experience more than one type. These types are organized into two categories, depending on which which part of the brain the seizure originates in and how much of the brain is affected by the electrical disturbance that produces seizures. Recognizing specific seizure types is very helpful in diagnosing, understanding, and treating epilepsy.
Click on the names below to read a description about some of the most common types.
1) Generalized Onset
The seizure discharge starts in the entire brain at once. More likely to be of genetic origin and include generalized tonic-clonic or grand mal seizures, absence or petit mal seizures and myoclonic seizures. Tonic means stiffening. Clonic means jerking, myoclonic means single or repetitive jerks.
What It Looks Like
A blank stare, lasting only a few seconds, most common in children. May be accompanied by rapid blinking, some chewing movements of the mouth. Child having the seizures is unaware of what's going on during the seizure, but quickly returns to full awareness once it has stopped. May result in learning difficulties if not recognized and treated
What It Is NOT
• Lack of attention
• Daydreaming
• Deliberately ignoring adult instructions
What It Looks Like
A child or adult suddenly collapses and falls. After 10 seconds to 1 minute he recovers, regains consciousness, and can stand and walk again.
What It Is NOT
• Clumsiness
• Normal childhood "stage"
• Child: Lack of good walking skills
• Adult: Acute illness, drunkenness
What It Looks Like
Sudden brief, massive muscle jerks that may involve the whole body or parts of the body. May cause a person to spill what they were holding or fall off a chair.
What It Is NOT
• Clumsiness
• Poor coordination
What It Looks Like
Sudden cry, fall, ridigity, followed by muscle jerks, shallow breathing or temporarily suspended breathing, bluish skin, possible loss of bladder control. Usually lasts a couple of minutes. Normal breathing then starts again. There may be some confusion and/or fatigue. Followed by return to full consciousness.
What It Is NOT
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Unknown but life threatening emergency
2) Partial or Focal Onset
The seizure discharge starts in one area of brain and then spreads out over other areas. Usually caused by focal brain damage from any cause. They are further divided into simple partial seizures in which there is no loss of consciousness and complex partial seizures in which there is a loss of consciousness. Loss of consciousness implies an interference with the person interacting with his or her environment.
What It Looks Like
Jerking begins in fingers or toes. Can't be stopped by patient, but patient stays awake and aware. Jerking may proceed to involve hand, arm and sometimes spreads to whole body and becomes a convulsive seizure.
Partial sensory seizures may not be obvious to an onlooker. Patient experiences a distorted environment. May see or hear things that aren't there. May feel unexplained fear, sadness, anger, or joy. May have nausea, experience odd smells and have a generally "funny" feeling in the stomach.
What It Is NOT
• Acting out
• Bizarre behavior
• Hysteria
• Mental illness
• Psychosomatic illness
• Parapsychological or mystical experience
What It Looks Like
Usually starts with blank stare, followed by chewing, followed by random activity. Persons appear unaware of surroundings, may seem dazed and mumble. Unresponsive, actions are clumsy and not directed. May pick at clothing, pick up objects, and even try to take clothes off. May run. May appear afraid. May struggle or flail at restraint. Once pattern established, same set of actions usually occur with each seizure. Lasts a few minutes, but post-seizure confusion can last substantially longer. No memory of what happened during seizure period.
What It Is NOT
• Drunkenness
• Intoxication on drugs
• Mental illness
• Disorderly conduct
3) Other Types
What It Looks Like
These are quick, sudden movements that start between 3 months and 2 years. If a child is sitting up, the head will fall forward, and the arms will flex forward. If lying down, the knees will be drawn up, with arms and head flexed forward as if the baby is reaching for support.
What It Is NOT
• Normal movements of the baby
• Colic
What It Looks Like
An audience is usually present during hysterical or psychogenic seizures. Consciousness is preserved, amnesia is absent or patchy, and movements that simulate epileptic convulsions do not have tonic-clonic phases or in-phase clonic movements of the upper extremities. Movements are out of phase, chaotic, and bizarre without stereotype. Side-to-side head movements are observed in one-third of persons and forward pelvic thursting in almost one-half of those experiencing psychogenic seizures. The attack ends abruptly with the patient alert and showing no post-ictal tiredness. A prior psychiatric history is usually present; psychogenic seizures are seldom the sole symptom and sign. Both psychogenic seizures and epileptic seizures can exist together in the same person. An EEG and CCTV-EEG monitoring can be useful in differentiating the two.
What It Is NOT
They are not real seizures. However, one person can have both real and pseudoepileptic seizures.
