10 Critical Factors To Know About Absence Seizures

4. Diagnosis

Only a medical professional can diagnosis an absence seizure. He or she will ask for a written description of what happens during the seizure from a teacher, parent or another family member. A doctor will then perform an electroencephalogram or an EEG to determine if there are abnormalities with the patient’s electrical activity in the brain. During the procedure, a patient will be asked to breathe rapidly or close their eyes while lights are flashed. This may make it easier to determine seizure patterns on an EEG.

3. Treatment

A neurologist should be consulted to discuss treatment options for absence seizures. Certain medications are available to prevent or reduce the frequency of seizures. The most commonly used drugs for children include lamotrigine, ethosuximide, valproic acid, and divalproex sodium. Most children will outgrow their seizures by the time they are eighteen years old. When this occurs, medications will not be needed into adulthood. Research shows that children who experience absence seizures before the age of nine are most likely to outgrow them.