We Need Your Help!
A survey is presently being conducted by a graduate student from Western Carolina University on transportation and epilepsy. Participants need to be 18 and above with at least a two year history of epilepsy. Information from this survey will be very helpful in assessing the transportation issues that people with epilepsy face in our state. If you would be interested in participating in this survey contact: Patricia Gibson at the Epilepsy Information Service at 1-800-642-0500 or email:pgibson@wakehealth.edu
How to diagnose epilepsy
Talking to your physician
Whether for you or your child, an epilepsy diagnosis is based mostly on history, or the information you provide to your physician. It is recommended that you keep a diary or record of seizures, including time of day, how long the seizure lasted, any unusual events prior to the seizure, etc. It is also helpful to bring an observer to your physician visit, to describe what happened during the seizure. If a friend or relative is able to take video of a seizure, this is extremely beneficial for your physician to view. Seizure Tracker is a smartphone application that helps you track all of this information in one place.
Seizure Tracker smartphone app Track seizure activity and more
Ways to test for epilepsy
In most situations, there is no test that clearly proves someone has epilepsy, although there is one exception noted below.
Blood test
Blood tests are commonly performed at a first doctor’s visit to determine whether there are other medical problems causing or contributing to the seizures.
Brain scan
A brain scan is also often needed. MRI brain scans are usually more comprehensive in showing the kinds of brain problems associated with seizures. But for some people, a simpler CT (cat) brain scan may be enough.
EEG
EEG (electroencephalogram) is a test of brain electrical activity. Sometimes this test allows physicians to see an electrical abnormality between seizures. This can help with the diagnosis of epilepsy type, guide medication selection and determine whether it's safe to stop medication. But even if the test is normal, it does not prove the person does not have epilepsy.
EEG: Inpatient Video EEG Monitoring
A special type of EEG (electroencephalogram) called Inpatient Video EEG Monitoring will most likely provide the clearest diagnosis, but the process is expensive and requires several days in the hospital. For this test, EEG wires are attached to the patient in a room with a video camera. Any epilepsy medications are reduced or stopped. The intent is to record a seizure or several seizures. This test is most often needed when the diagnosis of epilepsy is not clear even when other tests have been performed, or for people who have epilepsy which is not well-controlled even after trying several seizure medications. It is commonly used when someone is being considered for seizure surgery.
Get more information
Epilepsy Alliance North Carolina
Piedmont One, Suite 5541 A
1920 W. First Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Telephone: (800) 451-0694
Local: (336) 716-2320
Fax: (336) 716-6018
Email: PGibson@WakeHealth.edu