Epilepsy is a neurological disorder which results in regular seizures. This happens when the brain experiences abnormal electrical discharge from cortical neurons. There are different types of epilepsy, each having various different causes and symptoms. These include:
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Absences (petit mal seizures) – These typically occur in children ages 4 to 14, and cause a short incident of “blanking out” where the person appears to be staring into space. For the sufferer, they become unaware of their surroundings and become unresponsive to communication. When the seizure ends, they go about their day as usual, as if nothing had occurred. They can last from 10 – 20 seconds.
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Atonic seizures – Characterized by
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udden loss in muscle strength, they can occur in both adults and children. The person may seem awake and alert, but will show signs like inability to hold objects, uncontrolled head nodding, and even falling to the ground. These seizures can even occur repeatedly and usually last less than 15 seconds.
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Clonic seizures – A person will experience rapid, rhythmic jerking movements in both the arms and legs, which can occur on one or both sides of the body. When the seizure ends, the person normally does not suffer injuries and can continue as they were before the seizure. They can occur at a variety of ages.
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Myoclonic seizures are quick 1-2 second seizures that cause muscle jerking as the sufferer is conscious and aware. People often mistake the seizure for physical manifestations like tics or tremors. No medical attention is needed post-episode, and the sufferer usually resumes their previous activity.
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Tonic seizures – Also known as Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. The seizure causes the muscles to stiffen forcefully and the body to make sudden, rigid movements on both sides for about 20 seconds or less. They occur most often during sleep, but can happen when a person is awake, causing them to fall to the ground. After a tonic seizure, sufferers are often tired and confused.
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Tonic-clonic – Known as gran mal, These can last 1 to 3 minutes. It begins as the muscles stiffen, causing the person to drop to the floor unconscious. Injuries can occur from biting inside the mouth as well. As the clonic portion of the seizure begins, the limbs begin to jerk quickly and rhythmically for a few minutes until finally the motions slow and stop.
How Neurofeedback Can Help
Once diagnosed, epilepsy is often managed with anti-seizure medication. However, Epilepsy can also be addressed using neurofeedback, when medication is unable to produce the desired results.
neurofeedback research for epilepsy dates back to the 1960’s. It has been proven to raise a person’s seizure threshold, making the brain more resistant to seizures. A reduction in frequency, intensity, and recovery time has resulted from the method as well. Neurofeedback is able to address and correct brain functions such as reduced cognitive efficiency, processing speed and memory.
Neurofeedback is safe for both children and adults, and it the positive results have been proven to last. In fact, it is often considered first choice because it can lead to overall improved brain function.
Neurofeedback has been found to produce a significant reduction on seizure frequency. This finding is especially note-worthy given the patient group, individuals who had been unable to control their seizures with medical treatment.
At Restoring Health, we offer neurofeedback: a computer-based system for retraining brainwaves into making more healthy patterns. For those with advanced neurological issues like seizures and epilepsy, neurofeedback could help get you back into a more normal and healthy state of mind. To learn more, check out our neurofeedback page on this site or call (321)-444-6750 for more information.
