What Are Silent Seizures?

Seizures occur when electrical signals within the brain malfunction momentarily. One type of seizure is known as a petit mal seizure. Petit mal seizures are sometimes referred to as silent seizures or absence seizures because they are often hard to detect due to their subtle symptoms. Whereas grand mal seizures are characterized by violent convulsions that are quite noticeable.

Time Frame

• Silent seizures usually only last a few seconds. Affected individuals are not aware that a seizure is impending and do not have any lingering effects once the seizure is over.

Symptoms

• Individuals who have silent seizures lose consciousness to some degree. They may seem as though they are day dreaming. Those who have a silent seizure typically begin interacting again normally within a few seconds and do not realize that anything has happened to them.

Misconceptions

• According to the Epilepsy Foundation, silent seizures are often confused with complex partial seizures, which complicates treatment. Complex partial seizures, however, are different in that an aura precedes them and they are longer in duration.

Effects

• Silent seizures are usually not dangerous. However, they can result in learning difficulties because the affected individual misses important information during each seizure.

Treatment

• Silent seizures are treated with anti-epileptic medications.