MaineHealth offers Maine’s only Level 3 Epilepsy Center for the most advanced evaluation, diagnosis and care for adults and children with epilepsy.
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes seizures. Epilepsy affects nerve cell activity in the brain. Epilepsy is diagnosed in people of all ages.
Epilepsy symptoms
The seizure symptoms of epilepsy are not the same for each person. The type of seizure depends on the part of the brain affected. Symptoms include:
- Convulsions
- Fainting
- Muscle twitching, muscle spasms
- Memory loss (amnesia)
- Staring blankly
- Unable to move (paralysis) after a seizure
Epilepsy causes
Epilepsy causes can include:
- Head injuries
- Brain tumors
- Infections, such as meningitis
- Stroke
Diagnosing epilepsy
For an epilepsy diagnosis, your family doctor or provider will ask for a complete medical history, including:
- Any family history of seizures
- List of medication you are taking
- Previous illnesses, injuries and health conditions
The patient also may have several diagnostic tests:
- Neurological test (checking reflexes, eyesight, hearing)
- MRI exam of the brain
- Blood tests
- EEG
The electroencephalogram (EEG) is important for an epilepsy diagnosis, because it checks electrical activity in the brain. When a person has a seizure, the electrical activity will be abnormal.
Epilepsy treatment
Epilepsy usually is managed with medication. Other treatments can include surgery, medical devices, and making changes in eating habits.
