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Epilepsy, commonly referred to as a seizure disorder, is a neurological condition that causes recurring seizures. There are many forms of epilepsy, and while some individuals have an identifiable cause, for others the origin remains unknown.

This condition is more common than many realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.2% of people in the United States are living with active epilepsy. It can affect individuals of all ages, races, ethnicities, and genders.

Seizure symptoms can differ significantly from person to person. Some may remain fully aware during a seizure, while others may lose consciousness. Symptoms can range from brief periods of staring to involuntary jerking or twitching of the arms and legs, known as convulsions.

While a single concussion usually doesn't cause permanent brain damage, multiple concussions can lead to long-term cognitive and physical problems. Severe or repeated concussions can increase the risk of developing conditions like Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The brain changes that occur after a concussion can disrupt brain function, impacting memory, balance, sleep, and mood.

Understanding the Types of Seizures

Not all seizures look the same. Some are dramatic and obvious—others are subtle and easy to miss. Understanding the different types of seizures is an important step in getting an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment plan.

Focal (Partial) Seizures

Focal seizures start in one specific area of the brain. They may affect awareness, movement, emotions, or senses.

Focal Aware Seizures (Simple Partial Seizures): The person remains fully aware but may experience unusual sensations, such as déjà vu, tingling, or sudden emotions like fear or joy.
Focal Impaired Awareness Seizures (Complex Partial Seizures): These may cause confusion or altered consciousness. The person may stare blankly, perform repetitive movements, or seem unaware of their surroundings.

Generalized Seizures

Generalized seizures involve both sides of the brain from the start and usually cause a loss of awareness.

Tonic-Clonic Seizures (formerly Grand Mal): These are the most recognizable seizures. They often involve stiffening of the body (tonic phase), followed by rhythmic jerking (clonic phase), and may include loss of consciousness.
Absence Seizures (formerly Petit Mal): Common in children, these involve brief episodes of staring or “zoning out.” They last only a few seconds and may go unnoticed.
Myoclonic Seizures: These cause quick, sudden jerks or twitches in muscles, often in the arms or legs.
Atonic Seizures (Drop Attacks): These involve sudden loss of muscle tone, causing the person to collapse or fall.
Tonic Seizures: These cause sudden stiffness in the muscles, often during sleep.
Clonic Seizures: These involve repeated jerking movements, usually on both sides of the body.

Unknown Onset Seizures

When the beginning of a seizure isn’t witnessed or clearly understood, it’s classified as an unknown onset. As more information becomes available, it may later be reclassified as focal or generalized.

Why It Matters

Correctly identifying the type of seizure is key to choosing the right treatment and improving quality of life. At CSMA, our team uses advanced diagnostic tools—including EEG and sleep studies—to determine the cause and type of your seizures, so we can guide you toward the best care possible.

If you’re looking for conditions that require EEG (Electroencephalography), rEEG (Rapid EEG), and vEEG (Video EEG) for diagnosis and monitoring, here’s a breakdown by category:

1. Epilepsy & Seizure-Related Conditions

EEG, rEEG, and vEEG are essential tools for diagnosing and monitoring seizure disorders, including:

Epilepsy (Focal & Generalized Seizures)
Absence Seizures (Petit Mal)
Tonic-Clonic Seizures (Grand Mal)
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE)
Frontal Lobe Epilepsy (FLE)
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME)
Status Epilepticus (Prolonged Seizures)
Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) – Differentiated using vEEG.

Why EEG is Used:

Detects abnormal electrical brain activity.
Helps classify seizure types for proper treatment.
Monitors the effectiveness of epilepsy treatment.• Moni

2. Head Trauma & Concussions

Concussions and other brain injuries can disrupt regular brain waves, requiring EEG monitoring:

Post-Concussion Syndrome – Symptoms persisting after a mild TBI.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – EEG helps assess brain function after injury.
Second Impact Syndrome – Rare but fatal brain swelling after a second concussion.

Why EEG is Used:
• Detects abnormal slowing or spikes in brain waves.
• Identifies post-traumatic epilepsy (seizures after brain injury).
• Rapid EEG (rEEG) is used in emergency settings for quick assessment.

3. Sleep Disorders

Sleep-related EEG testing helps diagnose conditions such as:

Narcolepsy – Evaluated using multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT) with EEG.
Sleep Apnea – Often detected during polysomnography with EEG.
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) – Abnormal movements during sleep were detected on the EEG.

Why EEG is Used:

Identifies abnormal sleep patterns.
Detects seizure-like activity in sleep.

4. Stroke & Vascular Disorders

EEG can help in the early detection and monitoring of stroke-related conditions:

Ischemic Stroke – EEG may show slowing in affected brain areas.
Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA, “Mini-Stroke”) – EEG can help detect subtle dysfunction.
EEG can monitor for seizure activity post-stroke.• Hemorrhagic Stroke

Why EEG is Used:

Detects slowing or suppression of brain waves.
Monitors the risk of post-stroke seizures.

5. Neurodegenerative & Cognitive Disorders

EEG can assist in diagnosing and monitoring conditions like:

Dementia (Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body, etc.) – EEG may show slowing of brain activity.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) – Rapid EEG changes help confirm diagnosis.
Encephalopathy (Metabolic, Toxic, or Infectious) – EEG detects diffuse slowing or triphasic waves.

Why EEG is Used:

Identifies abnormal electrical slowing or sharp waves.
Helps differentiate types of dementia or brain dysfunction.

6. Infections & Autoimmune Disorders Affecting the Brain

Brain infections and autoimmune diseases can cause seizure-like activity:

Meningitis & Encephalitis – EEG detects cortical irritability.
Autoimmune Encephalitis (e.g., Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis) – EEG shows extreme delta brush patterns.
Reye’s Syndrome – A Rare condition affecting children; EEG shows slowing.

Why EEG is Used:

Identifies seizure risk in infections.
Monitors response to treatment.

Types of EEG Tests & Their Uses
1. Standard EEG – A short 20-40 minute recording to detect abnormal brain activity.
2. Rapid EEG (rEEG) – Used in emergency settings for quick assessment of seizures or brain function.
3. Video EEG (vEEG) – Long-term monitoring with video to capture seizure events and correlate with EEG changes.
4. Ambulatory EEG – A portable EEG device worn for 24-72 hours to detect intermittent seizure activity.