Epilepsy
What is epilepsy?
The ability to talk, think, feel, move and respond to the world around us all depend on normal electrical activity between brain cells.
Fits (sometimes called seizures) are occasional, excessive (to much) and abnormal (unusual) discharges of this electrical activity in groups of brain cells, that usually last for some seconds or minutes.
During fits (or seizures) the brain temporarily stops working properly producing sudden loss or alteration to normal abilities.
People who have these seizures regularly (rather than it just happening once) can be diagnosed with epilepsy.
Seizures cause many and varied symptoms including:
• impairment of consciousness (you may be unconscious)
• movements that are often repetitive and odd
• strange sensations
• psychiatric symptoms, such as mood changes and hallucinations.
Epilepsy is defined as the group of conditions in which people have a tendency to have recurrent seizures.
To read about how common epilepsy is and what some of the causes are click here
To read about the types of seizure that can happen with epilepsy click here
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities have information about epilepsy on their website
There are a number of national charities that support people with epilepsy -
