It is not always easy to diagnose seizures. Sometimes, symptoms of seizures are so subtle they are overlooked for a period of time. This is true of the staring seizures, absence seizures, and complex partial seizures. Seizures may also be confused with other problems such as fainting, sleep disorders, migraine, movement disorders, and psychiatric conditions.
After witnessing your child’s first seizure you may have trouble recalling the details. If it should occur again, try to recall the following information. When you get a moment, jot down the answers to these questions in a notebook. This will be helpful to your child’s physician.
- Were there any warning signs or symptoms before the seizure started?
- What was your child doing just before the seizure?
- What time of day or night did the seizure occur?
- Was your child able to talk or follow directions during the seizure? Could you get your child’s attention by tapping him/her on the shoulder?
- Did the seizure cause your child to fall or injure himself/herself?
- What did you notice about your child’s eyes? Were they open or closed? Were the eyes turned up or to one side?
- Did your child’s head turn to one side?
- Were there movements of the arms or legs? If so did one side move more than the other?
- How long did the seizure last?
- What happened while your child was recovering from the seizure? How long did it take for your child to recover from the seizure?
Videotaping your child during a spell (a generic term used to describe a change in behavior that may or may not be a seizure) can be invaluable to your physician in making a diagnosis.
After gathering the history, your child’s physician may recommend some testing.