Continued Early Childhood Education Phone: 866-727-1617


What Are the Causes and Types of Epilepsy?

Nancy Nathenson, RRT

August 12, 2022

Share:

Question

What are the causes and types of epilepsy?

Answer

Epilepsy is a neurological disease that causes individuals to have recurrent unprovoked seizures, meaning we don't know what has caused them. Thirty percent of the children that are diagnosed continue to have repeated seizures into adulthood. The good news is that 70% of children that are diagnosed with epilepsy can improve over time. Their little brains grow, develop, and mature and things can get better. If epilepsy starts before age 18 it is considered a developmental disability. Anytime you have a seizure and if you have recurrent seizures, it affects the brain. Depending on where it occurs, such as the speech center, memory center, or learning center, it can cause developmental disabilities.

Statistics

Here are some statistics about epilepsy. Worldwide, 65 million people have epilepsy. That includes 3.4 million people just in the US. There are 150,000 new cases diagnosed each year, with close to a half a million of those cases being children and youth in the United States. Epilepsy can affect anyone, it doesn't matter who you are. It's a syndrome associated with other health problems, so an individual may already have some cognitive or neurological problems or psychiatric problems such as mental illness. It also is associated with learning difficulties and psychological and social problems. 

Common Causes

For many, the cause of epilepsy is unknown. In fact, only about half of individuals that are diagnosed with epilepsy know the cause. Knowing the cause can help the doctors and parents understand what is to be expected over time. Some of the reasons that epilepsy can occur are brain trauma, brain tumors, and brain infections. My husband had brain trauma because he had brain surgery to remove a brain tumor that was pushing on the area of his brain that controlled the left side of his body. He became paralyzed on the left side after the surgery to remove the tumor and after the trauma of the surgery. He's been on AEDs, or anti-epileptic drugs, for some time. Brain injury at birth can cause epilepsy This can include babies being born with a lack of oxygen or external forces like forceps, things like that put pressure on their tiny heads and their brain. There can be changes in brain development that cause epilepsy. Stroke can also cause epilepsy. One in every 4,000 newborn births has a stroke. A stroke is among the top 10 causes of death in children. Genetics, including a history of epilepsy in the family, is another cause. 

Types

Here is a selection of types of epilepsy, including some common ones.

  • Temporal epilepsy occurs in the temporal lobes of the brain responsible for learning and memory. The temporal lobes are located on your temples between your ears and eyes.
  • Intractable epilepsy is when a person's seizures fail to come under control with treatment.
  • Reflex epilepsy is when specific triggers bring on seizures, such as cold temperatures, stress, or other things.
  • Psychomotor epilepsy is typically limited to the temporal lobe of the brain and results in impairments of responsiveness and being aware of one's surroundings.
  • Photosensitive epilepsy is when seizures are triggered by flashing lights or contrasting light and dark patterns. Sometimes you'll see this on video games, movies, or television shows and they'll give you an alert to let you know that there could be lights and distractors on the TV that could cause a seizure.
  • Post-traumatic epilepsy is a recurrent disorder resulting from injury to the brain, such as surgery, concussions, and things of that nature.
The Epilepsy Foundation has a wealth of information online for many different individuals including those caring for children of all ages in school or child care. Their mission is to lead the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy to accelerate the therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives.
 
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, Seizures and Seizure Management in Early Childhoodpresented by Nancy Nathenson, RRT.


nancy nathenson

Nancy Nathenson, RRT

Nancy Nathenson is a respiratory therapist with over 35 years of clinical experience in the ICU and rehabilitation, providing education and training in disease prevention, respiratory programs, and personal wellness. Nancy builds connections between healthcare and communities locally, regionally, and nationally. She is also a Community Asthma and COPD Expert with Allergy and Asthma Network.


Related Courses

Seizures and Seizure Management in Early Childhood
Presented by Nancy Nathenson, RRT
Video

Presenter

Nancy Nathenson, RRT
Course: #32281Level: IntermediateSubject Area: Planning a safe and healthy learning environment1 Hour
  'The presenters'   Read Reviews
Gain knowledge about seizures and seizure management in young children, including recognizing types of seizures in children, causes, interventions, safety considerations, and family education for child care centers and home environments.

Asthma and Anaphylaxis Management in Early Childhood
Presented by Nancy Nathenson, RRT
Video

Presenter

Nancy Nathenson, RRT
Course: #32098Level: IntermediateSubject Area: Planning a safe and healthy learning environment1 Hour
  'The presenter was very knowledgeable and presented well'   Read Reviews
Learn the basics of asthma and anaphylaxis management in young children, including recognizing asthma symptoms, how to properly take medications, and reduce asthma triggers in school, child care centers, and home environments.

CDA Renewal - Infant and Toddler, Part E
Presented by Isabel S. Chica, MS, Miriam Eckstein-Koas, MS, SpEd, Lauren Starnes, PhD, EdD, Christina Roseli, MEd, Charlotte Hendricks, PhD, Amr M. Moursi, DDS, PhD, Lisa Poelle, MA, Nancy Nathenson, RRT
Video

Presenters

Isabel S. Chica, MSMiriam Eckstein-Koas, MS, SpEdLauren Starnes, PhD, EdDChristina Roseli, MEdCharlotte Hendricks, PhDAmr M. Moursi, DDS, PhDLisa Poelle, MANancy Nathenson, RRT
Course: #35111Level: IntroductorySubject Area: Understanding principles of child development and learningSubject Area: Advancing children's physical and intellectual developmentSubject Area: Planning a safe and healthy learning environment9 Hours
  'The pediatric dentist was fabulous'   Read Reviews
Learn strategies to help children with developmental delays and visual impairments, activities to develop language, and ways to help keep children safe and healthy. This course is one of five parts that together comprise a 45-hour package of CDA renewal coursework specific and relevant for the infant and toddler setting. Each part includes 9 hours of content. Parts belonging to this package are labeled “CDA Renewal - Infant and Toddler, Part A” through “CDA Renewal - Infant and Toddler, Part E” and may be completed in any order.

CDA Renewal - Preschool, Part E
Presented by Isabel S. Chica, MS, Miriam Eckstein-Koas, MS, SpEd, Lauren Starnes, PhD, EdD, Christina Roseli, MEd, Charlotte Hendricks, PhD, Amr M. Moursi, DDS, PhD, Lisa Poelle, MA, Nancy Nathenson, RRT
Video

Presenters

Isabel S. Chica, MSMiriam Eckstein-Koas, MS, SpEdLauren Starnes, PhD, EdDChristina Roseli, MEdCharlotte Hendricks, PhDAmr M. Moursi, DDS, PhDLisa Poelle, MANancy Nathenson, RRT
Course: #35112Level: IntroductorySubject Area: Understanding principles of child development and learningSubject Area: Advancing children's physical and intellectual developmentSubject Area: Planning a safe and healthy learning environment9 Hours
  'Ideas and resources'   Read Reviews
Learn strategies to help children with developmental delays and visual impairments, activities to develop language, and ways to help keep children safe and healthy. This course is one of five parts that together comprise a 45-hour package of CDA renewal coursework specific and relevant for the preschool setting. Each part includes 9 hours of content. Parts belonging to this package are labeled “CDA Renewal - Preschool, Part A” through “CDA Renewal - Preschool, Part E” and may be completed in any order.

CDA Renewal - Family Child Care, Part E
Presented by Isabel S. Chica, MS, Miriam Eckstein-Koas, MS, SpEd, Lauren Starnes, PhD, EdD, Christina Roseli, MEd, Charlotte Hendricks, PhD, Amr M. Moursi, DDS, PhD, Lisa Poelle, MA, Nancy Nathenson, RRT
Video

Presenters

Isabel S. Chica, MSMiriam Eckstein-Koas, MS, SpEdLauren Starnes, PhD, EdDChristina Roseli, MEdCharlotte Hendricks, PhDAmr M. Moursi, DDS, PhDLisa Poelle, MANancy Nathenson, RRT
Course: #32243Level: IntroductorySubject Area: Understanding principles of child development and learningSubject Area: Advancing children's physical and intellectual developmentSubject Area: Planning a safe and healthy learning environment9 Hours
  'the class was great'   Read Reviews
Learn strategies to help children with developmental delays and visual impairments, activities to develop language, and ways to help keep children safe and healthy. This course is one of five parts that together comprise a 45-hour package of CDA renewal coursework specific and relevant for the family child care setting. Each part includes 9 hours of content. Parts belonging to this package are labeled “CDA Renewal - Family Child Care, Part A” through “CDA Renewal - Family Child Care, Part E” and may be completed in any order.

Our site uses cookies to improve your experience. By using our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy.