Epilepsy – Teachers
Basic first aidfor tonic-clonic(convulsive)seizuresDo keep calm - once a seizure startsit will usually stop on its own.Do reassure other pupils in the class.Do check the time to see how longthe seizure lasts.Do stop others from crowding around.Do protect the child’s dignity andprivacy, particularly if they havebeen incontinent.Do turn the child on their side intothe recovery position as soon as thejerking stops.Stay with the child and make surethey are not in any danger untilthey fully recover.Do speak gently to the child and tellthem what has happened.Talk gently to the child. Duringsome seizures the child may beawake but with a reduced levelof consciousness.Do check the child’s care plan,if they have one, for what to do.Do remember, the child may beconfused for a while after theseizure. They could have a headacheand may want to sleep.Do move any objects that couldcause injury.Do make sure an adult stays untilthe child fully recovers.Do remove glasses and loosen tightclothing around the neck.Do tell the child’s parents about theseizure. If you notice any differencein seizure patterns this can beimportant information.Do put something soft under thechild’s head to stop any injury.Do not move the child unless theyare in danger. For example, thechild has fallen near a hot radiator.Do not try to stop the jerking orrestrain the child.Basic first aid fornon-convulsiveseizuresDo not put anything into the child’smouth or between their teeth.Do not offer anything to eat or drinkuntil the child fully recovers.Do not fuss around the child whilethey are recovering.When to callan ambulance:if this is the child’s first seizure (as far as you know)if the seizure lasts for more than five minutes; orif the seizure lasts longer than the child’s usual timeif the child has injured themselvesif you suspect the child may have inhaled liquid, food or vomitif the child may have inhaled water during a seizure in a swimming poolFinding out aboutthe child’s epilepsy– questions forparents:What kind of seizures does thechild have?How long do seizures usually last?How often does the child have seizures?Do the seizures tend to happen atparticular times of the day?Does the child get any warningbefore a seizure?Are the child’s seizures triggeredby certain conditions or events?How often does the child takemedication?Is it necessary to take anymedication in school?Does the child experience any sideeffects from the medication?Epilepsy Scotland GuidesEpilepsy –a guide forteachersAfter the seizure, tell the childwhat’s happened and stay untilthey have fully recovered.Only call an ambulance if the childinjures themselves, or the seizurelasts longer than usual.Tell the child’s parents aboutthe seizure.What kind of first aid is likely tobe required?Will the child need emergencymedication? If yes, is there a writtencare plan in place?How long does the child need to restafter a seizure?Is the child likely to be incontinentduring a seizure?Does the child have any other kindof disability?Does the child have anunderstanding of epilepsy andtreatment for seizures?Have parents checked with theirdoctor or epilepsy specialist nurseabout any restrictions to the child’sschool activities?Helpline: 0808 800 2200Text: 07786 209 501www.epilepsyscotland.org.ukEpilepsy Scotland,48 Govan Rd, Glasgow G51 1JLGeneral: 0141 427 4911Fax: 0141 419 1709Email: enquiries@epilepsyscotland.org.ukEpilepsy Action Scotland is acompany limited by guarantee.Registered in Scotland No 163987Scottish Charity: No SC000067.Copyright 2010
Why this guidemattersContentsWhy this guide matters02What is epilepsy?03What causes epilepsy?04How is epilepsy treated?04How do I know if a childhas a seizure?05What can trigger a seizure?10Do I need to call anambulance?11When is a seizure a medicalemergency?12Useful first aid14Are there side effects withanti-epileptic drugs?16Why are memory problemsso common?17Watch for signs ofdepression18Effects on learning20Are there any safetyissues to consider?24School activities25Career advice27A checklist for teachers29What the law says30Epilepsy Scotland needs you! 33Further information0235As a teacher you could be thefirst adult to see a child havingan epileptic seizure. Or a parentmay tell you that their childhas epilepsy.This guide provides basicinformation about epilepsy.It will help you understand thiscondition and how it can affecta child’s learning. It will also tellyou how to recognise seizuresand how to deal with them.For many children, their epilepsywill not affect their behaviouror learning ability. Yet, weknow children with epilepsydo underperform at schooland achieve less than would beexpected. There are many reasonsfor this.Further informationThere is more information on: A guide to epilepsy – what youneed to know A woman’s guide to epilepsy Seizures explained A parent’s guide to epilepsy Epilepsy in later life Epilepsy and memory An employer’s guide to epilepsy Men and epilepsy Epilepsy and driving Diagnosing epilepsy Epilepsy and employment First aid for seizures Epilepsy and leisure Photosensitive epilepsy Epilepsy and treatmentEmotional wellbeingStaying safe with epilepsyCaring for people with epilepsy andlearning difficulties Sudden unexpected death inepilepsy (SUDEP) Brian learns about epilepsy(for pre-school/early primary schoolchildren whose parent has epilepsy) Farah and Ted visit the hospital(for pre-school/early primaryschool children going througha diagnosis of epilepsy)Epilepsy ata glance:what you needto know!Epilepsy is one of the most commonserious neurological conditions.People with epilepsy tend to haverepeated seizures.Up to 70% of children with epilepsywill either grow out of their epilepsyor have their seizures controlledby medication.How tospot possibleseizures:A child seems to daydream and nottake in information.A child falls down suddenly for noobvious reason.We are currently writing an accessible guide in Easy Read for peoplewith mild to moderate learning disabilities. For availability and furtherinformation on this, please contact our helpline.If you have questions after reading this leaflet, please call our helpline. Ourtrained staff are available during office hours and until 6pm on Thursdays.If you would like this leaflet in a different format,large print or language, please call 0808 800 2200.35A child rolls their eyes and blinksvery fast.A child makes repeated movementsthat may look out of place.A child nods their head as if fallingasleep and acts as if nothing hashappened.A child stops what they are doingand stares at nothing for a momentor two.Helpline: 0808 800 2200Seizures vary from person to person.TreatmentIs with anti-epileptic drugs (AED).This is taken usually twice a day outside school hours.There is usually no need to store medication at school.EmergencyMedicationis sometimes prescribed to stop prolonged seizures.The child’s care plan will have all the necessaryinformation.Most seizures are self-limiting andlast only a short time.There are over 40 different typesof seizures.Not all of them involve a sudden falland jerking.Some of them are difficult to spot.Seizure triggers –the most commonones are:It can only be administered by a trained andnamed person.Common sideeffects ofanti-epileptic drugsOther effectson a child’slearningDrowsinessDizzinessWeight loss or gainMood changesSafety – keepsafety measuresin proportion:Forgetting to take medicationProblems with short-term memoryand concentrationSeizures which involve sudden fallingdown have a higher risk of injury.Stress or anxiety, particularly aroundexam timesTiredness and/or confusion beforeand after a seizureConsider clearing extra space aroundthe child’s desk.First day nerves at schoolDepression linked to either the causeof seizures, side effect of medication,or psychological factorsCover sharp furniture edges withshaped plastic pieces.Name-calling/bullyingLack of sleepBoredomDehydration/too much liquidNot eating regularlyMenstruation/hormonesRecreational drugs/alcoholFlashing/flickering lights –photosensitive epilepsy onlyNatural light patterns/sunlight –photosensitive epilepsy onlyLow self-esteem, isolation frompeers, bullyingOverprotective parents/teachersplacing unnecessary restrictions on achild’s activitiesMissing lessons/staying at home ifseizures are frequentNot taking in all of the informationin class because of absence seizures(this looks like daydreaming)Children with epilepsy can enjoymost sport and leisure activities.Do individual risk assessment foreach activity.Under the Disability DiscriminationAct, no child with epilepsy can beexcluded from a school visit unlessthere is a health and safety risk.
What is epilepsy?Epilepsy can have a long-termnegative effect. Some childrenwill have very low self-esteemand self-confidence. Othersmay have missed educationalopportunities. Teenagers andyoung adults often feel sociallyisolated from their friends.The way you reactand how readily youaccept the child andtheir condition canmake a big difference.You can help remove any stigmaof epilepsy and change commonmisconceptions. You will play animportant part in helping eachchild with epilepsy lead as fulfillinga life as possible.Epilepsy is one of the mostcommon serious neurological(brain) conditions. Anyoneregardless of gender, race, age orbackground can develop epilepsy.It is more common in childhoodand later life.People with epilepsy tend to haverepeated seizures. Having just oneseizure does not mean you haveepilepsy. When the brain worksnormally billions of brain cells passmessages to each other. Theseaffect what we say and do. Whenthere is too much electrical activitythe brain short circuits. Messagesget scrambled up and this causesa seizure. Most seizures last only ashort time.03
What causesepilepsy?How is epilepsytreated?In seven out of ten cases there isno known cause. Latest researchsuggests that there may be agenetic link in many cases.Epilepsy is normally treated withanti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). A childwill usually take their medicationtwice a day outside school hours.In most cases, there is no need forschools to store and administerregular anti-epileptic drugs.Sometimes people developepilepsy as a result of a severehead injury or accident. Othercauses can be an infection of thebrain, such as meningitis, or ahigh fever.04Up to 70% of children withepilepsy will either grow out oftheir epilepsy or have their seizurescontrolled by medication.How do I know if a child has a seizure?Seizures vary from person toperson. There are over 40 differenttypes of seizures. Some are veryvisible: a child suddenly losesconsciousness, falls down and startsjerking. Others are less obviousand difficult to detect: you maythink a child is day dreaming ornot paying attention. During theseseizures a child momentarily losesconsciousness but does not jerk.Here’s a summary of the morecommon seizures. If you wantmore detailed information on thedifferent types of seizures, phoneus for a free copy of our ‘Seizuresexplained’ leaflet. partial (also called focal)seizuresIf there is a child with epilepsy inyour class, talk to the parents. Theywill give you all the informationyou need to know including whattype of seizure the child usuallyhas. We have included a checklistfor teachers on page 29. It willcover all the relevant questionsyou want to ask the child’s parents. generalised seizuresSeizures are generally dividedinto two main types:05
Partial seizuresPartial seizures only affect partof the brain. Often seizuresstart in those areas of the brainthat may have been damagedby a head injury, or an infectionlike meningitis. Sometimes aseizure can start in one part ofthe brain but then spread to thewhole of the brain. This is calleda secondary generalised seizure.Partial seizures are either simpleor complex.Simple partial seizureThese affect a smaller part of thebrain. You may observe the child’sarm twitching or some otherunusual movement. The child mayexperience strange sensations orvisions, such as seeing shapes,colours or faces. The child mayfeel ‘dreamy’, sick, or experienceemotions such as fear or anger.Sometimes there is a tinglingsensation or numbness acrossparts of the body. In somechildren, a simple partial seizureacts as a warning that a secondseizure could happen. The childknows the seizure is going on butcannot stop it.Complex partial seizureThese usually affect a larger area(but still only part) of the brain.During a complex partial seizure achild may experience strange andunusual feelings and lose senseof time. The child may appearunresponsive and switched offfrom what is going on around them.Often, they start to performinappropriate or automaticmovements. These can includeplucking at clothing, lip smacking,slurred speech, repeating words,head turning, wandering aimlessly,running or even undressing. Thechild does not lose consciousnessbut their level of consciousnessis altered.Watch out for these signs of possible seizures: A child seems to daydreamand not take in information. A child falls down suddenlyfor no obvious reason. A child rolls their eyes andblinks very fast. A child nods their head as iffalling asleep and acts as ifnothing has happened. A child stops what they aredoing and stares at nothingfor a moment or two. A child makes repeatedmovements that may lookout of place.0607
Generalised seizuresThese kind of seizures affectthe whole brain. People withgeneralised seizures will alwayslose consciousness, even just for afew seconds. The following are themore common generalised seizures:Tonic-clonic seizureMost people will recognise atonic-clonic seizure. In fact, this iswhat many assume epilepsy lookslike. A child suddenly stiffens,loses consciousness and falls tothe ground. This is followed byconvulsions. The child’s breathingmay also be affected turning theirlips blue.The child may make gruntingnoises or accidentally bite theirtongue or the inside of their cheek.The child may be incontinent.When the child comes roundthey may be confused and havea headache. It is normal for achild to want to sleep after such aseizure. Find a quiet place for thechild to rest. Make sure an adultstays with the child until theirbreathing has returned to normaland any confusion has gone.08Absence seizureYou may notice that a child lacksconcentration and does a lotof day dreaming. Sometimesthe child appears to be in atrance-like state. This is what anabsence seizure looks like. Thechild may appear awake to youbut in fact loses consciousness fora few seconds. You may see someslight movements of the eyelids.A child can have absence seizuresmany times a day. This can affectthe child’s learning and ability toretain information.Myoclonic seizureThese are sudden muscle spasmsor jerks affecting the child’s arms,head and sometimes the wholebody. The child will quickly recoverfrom a brief loss of consciousness.These seizures are more commonin the morning, shortly afterwaking or if the child is tired.Atonic seizureThese are sometimes known as‘drop attacks’. The child’s body willgo limp because muscles suddenlyrelax. If the child is standing, theywill fall to the ground. The childwill usually recover and get upvery quickly.Tonic seizureThese are similar to tonic-clonicseizures but without the convulsions.The child’s body will suddenlystiffen. If the child is standing, theywill fall to the ground. The child’sbreathing may also be affected.09
Do I need to callan ambulance?What can trigger a seizure?Some children find that certainthings can trigger a seizure. Sometriggers are common to manychildren, others are unique toone child. However, in manycases, seizures happen without aspecific reason.You should always ask theparents if they are awareof any specific triggers.Common seizure triggers are: lack of sleep/being tired forgetting to take medication menstruation stress or anxiety boredom dehydration or too much liquid not eating regular meals recreational drugs or alcohol flashing or flickering lights sunlight10A bit more on flashing andflickering lights:A common misconception is thateveryone who has epilepsy isaffected by these. In fact, onlya small percentage of childrenand adults (less than six per cent)have photosensitive epilepsy.Seizures can be triggered by usinga computer or watching TV or anyother flashing or flickering lights.Photosensitive epilepsy affectsmore girls than boys.LCD and plasma screens are safe asthey don’t flicker. However, usingthese screens does not protecta child from the content of acomputer game or TV programme.If the game or programmecontains flashing or flickeringlights, images or patterns, it cantrigger a seizure in a child withphotosensitive epilepsy. We havelots more information on this.Phone our helpline for a copy ofour latest factsheet.School-related triggersExam times are stressful for mostpupils. However, for a child withepilepsy, the stress and anxietyin the run up to and on the dayof exams can be a seizure trigger.Add disturbed sleep and noteating regularly to this scenario,and you have a set of classicseizure triggers.Other things to watch out for arefirst day nerves, name calling andbeing bullied.As a teacher, it helps to be aware ofgeneral epilepsy-related factors, aswell as the child’s unique triggers.This will give you confidence toanticipate, recognise and dealwith a child’s seizures in the mostappropriate and sensitive way.Seizures can be frightening towatch. In most cases, you let aseizure run its course, there isnothing you can do to stop it.You don’t need to call anambulance if the seizure stopsafter five minutes or whatever timeis usual for the child.You should always call anambulance: if this is the child’s first seizure(as far as you know) if the seizure lasts for more thanfive minutes; or if the seizure lasts longer thanthe child’s usual time if the child has injured themselves if you suspect the child may haveinhaled liquid, food or vomit if the seizure happened in aswimming pool and the childmay have inhaled water11
When is a seizure a medical emergency?On rare occasions, emergencymedication is needed to stoprepeated and continuous seizures.Unless school staff are trained andauthorised by the child’s parents togive emergency medication, youwill need to call an ambulance.How do you know the seizurewon’t stop?You won’t. Therefore, as a rule ofthumb, call an ambulance if theseizure goes on for more thanfive minutes, or if it is longerthan normal for the child. Thisallows for the time it may take anambulance to arrive.A medical emergency arises when: the seizure lasts for more than30 minutes; or the child has one seizure afteranother without recovery timein between. Recovery meansbeing fully conscious andbreathing normally.12These non-stop or continuousseizures are called statusepilepticus. It is important toremember that status epilepticusis rare. It is more likely with tonicclonic, ie convulsive seizures andis easily spotted. However, statusepilepticus can also occur withnon-convulsive seizures, such ascomplex partial or absenceseizures. These are more difficultto recognise but may also requireemergency medication to stop them.Who can give emergencymedication?Apart from medical staff, onlytrained and authorised people cangive this emergency medication.If a child has prolonged seizureswhich may require emergencymedication at school, a care planshould be drawn up. This will beagreed between the child’s GP andparents. The school will have acopy of this care plan. It will giveimportant information on:What is emergency medication?This is usually rectal diazepamgiven via a special tube into theanus, or midazolam given insidethe buccal cavity (the spacebetween the gum and cheek) orthrough the nose. how long a seizure usually lastsThe care plan will also nominatetwo trained school staff who arewilling to give this medication.Your school will have a policy tomake sure that all medicationis stored safely and securely onthe premises.Epilepsy Scotland can providetraining on emergency med
photosensitive epilepsy only Natural light patterns/sunlight – photosensitive epilepsy only Epilepsy at a glance: what you need to know! Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological conditions. People with epilepsy tend to have repeated seizures. Up to 70% of children with epilepsy will either grow out of their epilepsy
Epilepsy: A Guide for Teachers - 3 Epilepsy is a condition that is more common than most people realize. In the general population, approximately one person in a hundred has epilepsy meaning that approximately one in every one hundred students has epilepsy. In Canada, there are over 330,000 people with epilepsy. People of all ages have epilepsy .
epilepsy and women’s health, says one of the biggest misconceptions about epilepsy is that women with epilepsy cannot or should not have children. “Epilepsy should not be the vast majority [of women with epilepsy] have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies”. Studies show that over 90% of women with epilepsy will give birth to normal, healthy
Director, NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center New York University Robert Fisher, MD, PhD Maslah Saul MD Professor Director, Stanford Epilepsy Center Stanford University . Dr. Alfonsina Q Davies Endowed Chair in Honor of Paul Crandall for Epilepsy Research Director, Epilepsy Surgery, Pediatric Epilepsy Program .
people with epilepsy are also served by local Epilepsy Foundation affiliates across the country. If you have any questions about epilepsy and seizure disorders, living with epilepsy, or helping a friend or family member who has epilepsy, please visit us on the Web at www.EpilepsyFoundation.org or call 800-332-1000. Our Web site has information .
Epilepsy prioritizes highly innovative, risky, paradigm-shifting projects that address CURE Epilepsy’s mission to cure epilepsy, affirming our core belief that the only acceptable final goal is “no seizures, no side-effects.” CURE Epilepsy: Our mission is to cure epilepsy, by promoting and funding patient-focused research.
Memory and epilepsy. Epilepsy Action – together we can . change lives . Together we can help more people gain the knowledge and confidence to live better with epilepsy. We can raise awareness, so that more people understand epilepsy. Together we can: ovide expert information and advice, so everyone affected by Pr
What is epilepsy? 3 Memory 4 Memory problems 5 Memory and epilepsy 6 Improving memory 8 Problem areas 10 Finally 11 This guide explains why people with epilepsy can have memory problems. This leaflet explains why. It also gives some ideas for improving memory.
3rd Grade – Persuasive Essay . Teachers may want to invest time in reading Kindergarten-Second Grade MAISA Writing Units of study or talk to previous grade level teachers before beginning this unit. If students have not had previous experience in a writing workshop or with aligned units of study, teachers may want to include lessons from previous grade levels as support and build towards .
