Absence seizures usually occur in children who haveepilepsy, but adults can have them as well.
Absence seizures are typically a childhood condition.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Symptoms
Absence seizures can go unnoticed.
Verywell / Laura Porter
They can occur several times a day and rarely cause disruption, noise, or clearly obvious manifestations.
Sometimes, a person may experience them for months before others begin to take notice.
A typical absence seizure manifests as a staring spell that can last between 10 and 30 seconds.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
The person experiencing the seizure isusually not aware that it’s happening.
Consciousness is impaired, which means they’re not aware of their surroundings or movements.
Unlike other seizures, absence seizures do not cause jerking movements or physical convulsions, however.
After the seizure, they will quickly resume awareness and continue what they were doing before it came on.
A child having one in a classroom, for example, can appear to be bored or daydreaming.
Absence seizures are more noticeable if they occur during a physical task or while interacting with someone.
Causes
Absence seizures are due to abnormal electrical activity throughout the brain.
Most people who experience absence seizures don’t experience other types of seizures.
However, some people who have absence seizures may have a family history of epilepsy.
Someone with absence seizures may have other medical conditions characterized by severe developmental delay.
A medical evaluation can help confirm the diagnosis so that treatment can be initiated.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Anelectroencephalogram (EEG)will show a symmetrical 3 Hz spike and wave pattern.
If convulsive seizures occur along with absence seizures, more than one of these drugs may be necessary.
As a family member/caretaker, you might help them address these issues preemptively.
Safety
In general, absence seizures do not cause falls or injuries.
see to it that your loved one only participates in these activities if the seizures are well controlled.
School and Work
Encourage adequate sleep, food, and drink.
It may not always be comfortable or possible to explain the condition in social situations.
This may take time but is well worth the effort.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Absence seizures.
Epilepsy Foundation.Childhood absence epilepsy.
Epilepsy Foundation.Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).
