Epilepsy / Seizures

About Our Epilepsy Program:

Epilepsy is a common neurologic disorder, affecting more than 3 million people nationwide and near 100,000 in North Texas. Seizures can manifest in different ways, and symptoms can vary depending on the region of the brain affected.  For patients who do have seizures, not knowing when the next seizure will occur, or what one will endure can be life altering.  We understand this and realize that finding answers and having a comprehensive care plan is integral in regaining control.  Our dedicated team of experts use cutting edge technologies to help identify each patient’s seizure type(s) and create a comprehensive individualized treatment plan to best address each patient’s needs. Our patients not only see a board-certified neurologist to manage their care, but also a fellowship-trained Epileptologist that specializes in seizure diagnosing and management.

Each person with epilepsy has their own unique journey. 
We see ourselves as partners who walk this journey side-by-side with you. Care is centered in our outpatient clinic. Our services include medication management, short and long-term video-EEG monitoring, brain imaging, psychiatric and neuropsychiatric assessments, cognitive therapy, clinical trials, and access to social work and support services, including the Epilepsy Foundation of Texas.

For about one-third of patients with epilepsy, seizures continue despite medication treatments. This is where our team particularly excels, capitalizing upon their area of expertise. We have partnered with an adult level 4 Epilepsy Center, the highest level recognized by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC).  Here, we have the capability to diagnose and treat epilepsy using the most advanced medical and surgical treatments available. 

SeizureTeam

Our Epilepsy Team:

While all our neurologists treat seizures and provide orders for diagnostic testing, they rely on our Epileptologists to care for our patients living with Epilepsy.

Our epilepsy team offers a professional collaboration to improve the patient’s quality of life.

  • Consultation with a two year fellowship-trained epileptologist
  • Affiliation with Level-4 Epilepsy Center
  • Medication review and management
  • Neuropsychological testing when needed
  • State of the art technology including MRI (with neuro trained radiology readings)
  • EEG – Routine, Ambulatory & Long-Term Video EEGs
  • Clinical Research providing access to emerging therapies
  • Epilepsy surgery consultation and oversight
  • Device surgery and management: RNS, VNS
  • Physical, Occupational and Speech therapy with neuro trained therapist

Epilepsy Timeline:

1. First Seizure
  • Expedited Evaluation by one of our epileptologists that includes history review and diagnostic testing.
  • Social impact guidance to discuss driving, work and other social changes.
  • Risk assessment to help to identify practical ideas for reducing risk to make situations safer.
  • Onsite Diagnostic Testingto include EEG and MRI (with neurologist trained radiologist readings).
Seizure patient
2. Another Seizure
3. Recurrent Seizures
  • Medication management for seizure control.
  • In-house diagnostic monitoring in our state of the art subacute EMU.
  • Review of modifiable triggers.
  • Memory and Cognitive testing
  • PT/OT/ST Evaluation onsite in our therapy center.
Medical,Doctor,Holing,Senior,Patient's,Hands,And,Comforting,Her
4. Breakthrough Seizure
Requiring Hospital Treatment
5. Recurrent Seizures Despite Having Tried 2 AEDs
Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) AEDs are the most commonly used treatment for epilepsy. They help control seizures in around 7 out of 10 of people. AEDs work by changing the levels of chemicals in your brain.
EEG
6. Intensive Studies of Seizures in EMU
Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) within a Level-4 Epilepsy Center Hospital
7. Treatment options outside of medication
  • Multi-disciplinary conference to discuss failed interventions and possible treatments
  • Level-4 Epilepsy Center oversight for in depth study of the specific type of epilepsy.
  • Non-pharmaceutical option consultations such as surgery, laser surgery, VNS, RNS.
  • Clinical research providing access to emerging therapies.
  • Rehabilitation services post surgical intervention.
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8. Continual Support
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First Seizure
Another Seizure
Recurrent Seizures
Breakthrough Seizure
Recurrent Seizures w/ AEDs
Recurrent Seizures w/ AEDs
Treatment Options
Continual Specialized Support
What is a Seizure?

A seizure occurs when there is a sudden electrical disturbance in the brain. Depending on the type of a seizure, a person may temporarily have involuntary muscle movements and lose awareness or consciousness. The type of seizure a person experiences depends on where the seizure begins in the brain.

 

Generally, a person is diagnosed with epilepsy after two or more unprovoked seizures, or after a high risk of having another seizure is identified after an initial seizure. Provoked seizures—also known as acute symptomatic seizures—have a clear, immediate cause, such as a stroke or brain injury.

What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by spontaneous, repeated seizures. Seizures occur when there are abnormal electrical impulses in the brain. A single seizure does not necessarily mean that a person will develop epilepsy.
Do I Have Epilepsy?
Seizures are the main symptom of epilepsy, but seizures don’t look and feel the same for everyone. Also, not every person that has a seizure will be diagnosed with Epilepsy. There are more than 30 different types of epileptic seizures. The type of seizure you experience depends on where the seizure begins in your brain and what caused this to happen. A partial seizure occurs when there are abnormal electrical impulses in only one area of the brain. General epileptic seizures occur when electrical impulses “storm” or spread through the brain. Generally speaking, these symptoms may be linked to or the primary symptom of a seizure:
  • Auras: These are symptoms that people experience at the beginning of a seizure (see below)
  • Loss of consciousness or awareness; syncope
  • Staring off into the distance, sometimes accompanied by repetitive actions like lip smacking
  • Confusion
  • Jerking, twitching, or other involuntary movements
  • Stiffening or jerking of the body, arms, and legs
  • Abrupt loss in muscle tone (“drop attacks”), which may lead to falls
Treatments for Epilepsy

If you are diagnosed with epilepsy, your doctor will usually recommend treatment with one or more anti-epilepsy medications. About two-thirds of people with epilepsy have good control of their seizures with medication, and they have few or no side effects. 

 

If you have epilepsy that is not well controlled with medication or if you experience side effects from medication, you might be eligible for other treatments. These treatments include epilepsy surgery, brain stimulation devices, vagal nerve stimulation, and the ketogenic diet. The goal of epilepsy treatment is to be completely seizure free. 

 

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NCD Testing Center

Learn more about the testing available for seizures in our Neuro Testing Center.