Seizure Disorder Specialist

What is a seizure disorder?

Seizures occur in 2% of the United States population for any number of reasons, such as in an accident or during alcohol withdrawal, and two-thirds of these people never have another seizure. 

For the final third, however, a seizure disorder may develop, which is characterized by two or more episodes of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain.

What are the different types of seizures?

There are three different types of seizures, including:

General onset

In this type of seizure, the problem originates in both hemispheres of your brain and you suffer both awareness problems and loss of consciousness. While involuntary muscle twitching and jerky movements are the hallmarks of this type of seizure, it can also lead to sudden falling, staring off into space, or muscle stiffness.

Focal seizures

These seizures stem from only one side of your brain and account for 60% of epileptic seizures. During a focal seizure, you generally don’t lose consciousness and you may experience any number of symptoms that range from motor abnormalities to emotional disturbances.

Unknown seizures

These seizures are of unknown origin and can come in clusters.

It’s important to note that seizures manifest themselves in incredibly diverse ways, which is why it’s best to seek the counsel of the experts at Texas Pediatric Specialties and Family Sleep Center.

How are seizure disorders diagnosed?

The team at Texas Pediatric Specialties and Family Sleep Center uses a number of tools to determine which type of seizure disorder you may have. 

To start, they thoroughly review your symptoms, which not only includes what happens during your seizure, but what you were feeling or doing leading up to your seizure.

Once they have a better idea of what happens to you during a seizure and what may trigger it, they turn to an electroencephalogram (EEG), which measures the electrical activity in your brain. 

The EEG is one of the most valuable tools in diagnosing a seizure disorder as it measures any abnormalities in your brain’s activity.

What treatments are available for seizure disorders?

Your treatment plan depends upon the type, severity, and frequency of your seizures. The goal at Texas Pediatric Specialties and Family Sleep Center is to help you find ways to better manage the seizure disorder, especially if it’s a quality of life concern or is potentially dangerous.

To learn more about seizure disorders, call Texas Pediatric Specialties and Family Sleep Center or use the online booking feature.