just exhausted or passive seziures? worried about my autistic 3 yr old

Jennifer - posted on 08/10/2012

we are working on trying to get our dr to listen to us when i tell tehnm i think he may have a seziure disorder and get him tested my gut says it si i talked with his teachers since i asked them to start writing down every "episode "of these staring spells since then he seems to have at least one ever day if not more they are keeping a log of every time they notice one so i can bring them with me to his well child apt that is coming up i am hopeing this proof will be enough to convince the dr there is something wrong i do notice these episodes are more likely the more tired he is but the school says they could be stemin behaviour due to the autism as well part of the chromosome disorder they have can cause the brain to not fully seperate they want to wait till he is much older to run tests on that my oldest is likely to be getting those scans in the next year since he is old enough to stay till withought sedation also all these episodes seem to occur mstly after 1:00 in the afternoon right before he gets on the bus to come home is it normal for a child to have these around a certian time of day or are they more random in nature

Lisa - posted on 08/09/2012

Sounds like the absence seizures my son has now. He first had them at age 1.5 yrs. we controlled with meds and he was able to go off meds by age 5. His seizures returned when he turned 10 yrs...we think because of changing hormones. He's on meds, but stressors on the body can still trigger them. Caution with kepra, google side effects. It's not for everyone. There are many seizure meds to try. Tests can confirm seizures. Good luck!

Crystal - posted on 08/07/2012

Dear Mom,

I also have a son that used to have seizures until we got them under control. Don't know if you have them under control yet, but have your doctor to try Keppra. It has stopped them in their tracks.

Hope this helps,

Crystal

Autismomma - posted on 07/26/2012

I am not really sure exactly what you are asking but what caught my eye about your post was when you mentioned your son's lip-smacking. My son, who has autism and epilepsy, gets that glassy-eyed look and will often smack his lips right before he has a seizure. He has done it so many times right before a seizure that I go into overdrive whenever I hear him making any kind of sound that sounds even similar to that lip-smacking sound.

Reshma - posted on 07/25/2012

Seizure Disorder
A seizure disorder (also known as epilepsy) is a condition in which the neurons in the brain function abnormally, resulting in sudden, brief changes in how the brain works. These changes result in seizures, which involve convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. A person needs to have two or more seizures to be classified as having a disorder.
What Is a Seizure Disorder?
The term "seizure disorder" refers to a condition that occurs when clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. When these brain cells are not working properly, a person's consciousness, movement, or actions may be altered for a short time. These physical changes are called epileptic seizures.

Seizure disorders are more commonly known as epilepsy and affect people of all nationalities and races.

What Causes It?
A seizure disorder can be caused by a variety of factors. Anything that disturbs the normal pattern of neuron activity -- from illness to brain damage to abnormal brain development -- can cause a seizure. The condition may develop as the result of abnormality in brain wiring, an imbalance of nerve signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters, or some combination of these factors.

Seizure disorders are not contagious and are not caused by mental illness or mental retardation.

Diagnosing a Seizure Disorder
Experiencing a single seizure does not necessarily mean that a person has a seizure disorder. Only when a person has had two or more seizures is he or she considered to have a disorder. Brain scans and electroencephalograms (EEGs) are common tests used to make a diagnosis.
Signs and Symptoms:

Seizures are classified in two main categories:

Partial seizures -- involve a part of the brain. They can be:

Simple partial seizures -- Symptoms may include involuntary twitching of the muscles or arms and legs; changes in vision; vertigo; and experiencing unusual tastes or smells. The person does not lose consciousness.
Complex partial seizures -- Symptoms may be similar to those of partial seizures, but the person does lose awareness for a time. The persona may engage in repetitive behavior (like walking in a circle or rubbing their hands) or stare.

Generalized seizures -- involve much more or all of the brain. They can be:

Absence seizures (petit mal) -- Symptoms may include staring and brief loss of consciousness.
Myoclonic seizures -- Symptoms may include jerking or twitching of the limbs on both sides of the body.
Tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal) -- Symptoms may include loss of consciousness, shaking or jerking of the body, and loss of bladder control. The person may have an aura or an unusual feeling before the seizure starts. These seizures can last from 5 - 20 minutes.


Read more: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/seizu...

Sharlene - posted on 07/25/2012

Hi, My 9 yr old son has autism and when he was much younger he had seziures and put on med's for that and he also had the same glassy stare in his eyes. He went for head scans and one side of his brain was not active. He has not had a seizure for years now and yes mum your doing everything right just keep thinking positive and has the doctors or specialist said he would grow out of it and also is he in early intervention that might help if you can get some services for him. Good luck with the future testing with your family and I wish you the very best. And mum your doing everything right just take it easy .take care xx